Saturday 30th January
marks our famous Charity Open House Launch event ~ this time for Beatons
Crowthorne ~ and in aid of Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service, and our
'communitea cause' for 2016. From 10 am to 12 noon.
We'll be notching up three
firsts for Crowthorne: debut performances of a song and a poem celebrating
the village's unusual history and Crowthorne
getting its own bookshop (well, to be precise it's a combined tearooms and bookshop). Come along to the official opening at 10 am by the Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest,
Councillor Mrs Dee Hamilton after which the song and poem will get their first
public airing and let's raise lots of money for Alexander Devine!
The specially-written poem
will be performed afterwards by author Liz Darcy Jones. 'Sing a Song of
Crowthorne' by a group of children from The Dani Harmer Academy of Performing Arts. Can we give them a huge thanks in advance for pulling a rabbit (or should that be a crow?!)
out of the box to learn and perform at very short notice. Crowthorne seems to
have no end of music, dance and drama lovers! Free samples of Beatons'
signature carrot cake and Nonsuch BV loose leaf tea will be served until noon (we
hope in return for your donation to the charity). Please note! Our normal
service may be briefly suspended during the Open House event.
Will your 'crow' be here on our Crow Thorn Tree?! |
What do we want you do
to? Help create a unique 'crow thorn tree' artwork by signing your name and hanging
a cut-out crow on the tree made by franchisee Paul Mitchell's creative young
family when you donate. It's an amazing
and beautiful object d'art that your 'crow' will be part of!
The Beatons Crowthorne poem and
adaptation of Sing A Song of Sixpence - re-titled 'Sing a Song of Crowthorne' -
are by our Press Officer who just happens to be best-selling Tea Poet Liz Darcy Jones. She's been associated with the
group for the past four years. Both pieces praise Crowthorne's unique
characteristics including mentions of Wellington College, Broadmoor, and the now
extinct 'broomdashers'!
Fiona Devine,
co-founder of the Children’s Hospice, has given us a great thumbs up to our
choice of charity, 'We are thrilled here at Alexander Devine to have been
chosen by Beatons Tearoom Crowthorne, as their first ‘Communitea Cause’.
There is definitely something very special about a wonderful cosy and cheerful
place, to enjoy a proper cup of tea and have an opportunity to pick up a good
read too!'
Liz Darcy Jones
Press Officer