Big Band dance for Legion

ABOUT 150 people attended a dance at Henley town hall to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The event, which took place on the Queen Elizabeth II hall on Friday last week, featured a 16-piece band and lessons in how to dance the Lindy Hop.

It had a Forties theme and so guests arrived in a variety of period dress, including uniform of the Home Guard and the hall was decorated with large Union flags.

The evening began with guests learning to Lindy Hop with Swing Dance Summertown while The Big R Big Band, from Bristol and led by drummer Richie Paradise, played period music.

Drinks were served from a themed bar provided by the Old Bell pub in Bell Street, which served cocktails and drinks from the era.

There was also a visit by “Sir Winston Churchill”, who arrived in a Thirties Lagonda.

The event was organised by town councillor Gill Dodds, Richard Pinches, the chairman of the Henley branch of the Royal British Legion, and Philippa Ratcliffe of Experience Henley. It was also raising money for the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal.

Mike Quigley, of Crays Pond, a member of the Red Line Home Guard living history group, came with his wife Jackie.

He said: “It is brilliant. Days like VE Day are really important as we don’t want it to be forgotten as veterans dwindle in numbers.

“It is especially important for the youth of today to remember what our forefathers did for us, protecting the freedoms we have got now.” Mayor Tom Buckley said: “When I arrived it felt as if I walked into the Forties. The people here have made the effort by dressing up.

“By learning to dance they are throwing themselves into the spirit of that era and, in doing so, are remembering something that happened so long ago and are bringing it back.

“Their participation and their effort are what makes Henley so special. The willingness for them all to throw themselves in without care, without worry and to have fun shows what we as a town are like.”

Cllr Dodds said: “I was absolutely thrilled with the way the event went, it was away beyond my expectations.

“The dance was a nod to what the Henley Borough Corporation did on Saturday nights. They put on dances during the times we had evacuees here and a lot of American soldiers.

“We thought we would try and re-create that which, of course, we did and people embraced the spirit of it and took a great deal of time to dress appropriately and with fun.”

Mr Pinches said: “The dance is absolutely incredible and there were so many people who came. The band was also a really lucky find.

“My girlfriend Liz found the band. We hadn’t heard them apart from internet videos but we were lucky as they were brilliant.

“The atmosphere was brilliant and the dance instructors made a massive difference – my legs are still hurting from dancing.

“The bar was run by Claire at the Bell and she did it at cost, with profits going to the Poppy Appeal. We would have raised thousands of pounds.”

Ms Ratcliffe said: “It was absolutely incredible and it really did feel like we stepped back in time. The town hall looked just fantastic adorned with flags. The band was amazing and Claire at The Old Bell bar was fabulous.”