Gold fever at festival ball

MORE than 350 people attended the Wargrave Festival Golden Ticket ball.

Guests wore glittery suit jackets and gold dresses and some of the men decorated their beards with glitter.

The ball on Friday night marked the festival’s 50th anniversary and was sold out.

Guests were offered champagne and nibbles on arrival and were greeted by Pitch Perfect and contemporary music covers from Avenue, who stood in the garden area outside the marquee on Mill Green.

Avenue, a nine-piece acapella group from Twyford, performed songs including A Little Respect by Erasure, Freedom by George Michael and an arrangement of Sam Smith’s Stay with Me and Avicii’s Wake Me Up.

Guests were served a three-course meal of an antipasti and charcuterie platter to start, a main course selection of chicken, roast beef with a salsa verde and salmon platters with salads and a tiramisu for dessert.

The meal was accompanied by specially selected wines and there was a cocktail stall by the Jacobini wine bar in Henley.

There was a “star-studded” silent auction throughout the night. Prizes included a signed presentation picture of Queen Elizabeth II at 10 years into her reign, a signed Tyson Fury gold and red boxing glove, a Brazil football shirt signed by Pelé and a Tour de France yellow jersey signed by Bradley Wiggins.

Also up for auction was a selection of experiences including private dining at Tom Kerridge’s the Shed in Marlow, a two-night stay in the Cotswolds, a chef’s table experience in London by Heston Blumenthal, a Monte Carlo classic car road rally in Monaco, a seven-night stay in Orlando for 16 people and a cocktail experience at the Aubrey in Hyde Park.

Later in the evening, there was music from live band Alibi who played until 1am but the dancing continued for another hour.

Ball organiser Josie Fear, from Twyford, said: “This is my sixth time of organising the event. It went really well and everyone had a great time. The second set had the whole dance floor going and people really went all out with their outfits. We had a bit of a Willy Wonka theme for the table decorations.

“It has been really fun to have the gold theme. There are lots of people who have organised it over the years who come along to support. The festival is one of the things that makes Wargrave quite a special village. Everybody gets involved.”

Tim Hodges, a photographer from Wargrave, said: “The atmosphere was electric. It is always well done but this year it was exceptional.

“Everyone was dressed up with the theme of gold and some people were in gold waistcoats.

“The food service was excellent and there was a four-piece band that were excellent.” Tina Potter, from Twyford, a member of Avenue, said: “It was a real privilege to perform. We’ve sung here for the last few years and it is always such a lovely evening. It’s something we look forward to every time.

“There were lots of amazing outfits and people really got into the theme of glitz and glam.”

The ball kicked off the festival’s final weekend of events which included the village fete and a talent show and finished with a family barbecue at Mill Green on Sunday followed by family games.

On the Wargrave Hall lawn, there were two Morris dance performances on Sunday afternoon by Mister Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers and Kaleidoscope, a troupe of six women, who improvised modern folkloric moves from countries around the world.