Victorian Tea party at the ABC Hall in Bolingbroke

Jun 12, 2014

On June 8 the ABC Hall was transformed into a Victorian era tea house for a special first time fundraiser. Over 60 guests, many in fancy dress, hats and fascinators sat at white lace-lined tables that boasted fancy china tea cups, silver serving sets and fresh cut flowers. Close to 15 volunteers, many dressed in Victorian era costumes, served up an exceptional array of tea party snacks on fancy three-tiered serving trays and poured out tea from silver tea pots. The menu included dainty sandwiches of gravlax, fancy cheeses and beef tenderloin and for dessert an assortment of fancy cookies, squares plus scones with fresh cream and preserves.

The tea, which was organized by Pat Hough, the events coordinator at the hall, included live music courtesy of harpist Judi Longstreet of Portland. Numerous door prizes were given out including bouquets of fresh cut flowers, gift baskets and free tickets to the next Friday night Bolingbroke Café in September. Guests could also enter a competition for the best hat/fascinator.

Sharon Turner opened the event with a brief history of Queen Victoria, who was born at Kensington Palace in London on May 24, 1819 and became Queen in 1837 at the age of 18. Known for her “warm-hearted and lively nature" she was also known to have a gift for painting and drawing and was an avid diarist. Throughout her life she kept a journal. She married Prince Albert in 1840 and together they had nine children. Her reign is associated with a time of great industrial expansion and economic progress and the British empire expanded greatly during her reign. Her husband died at age 42 in 1861, which it is thought to have sunk the Queen into a deep depression. After that she became increasingly reclusive and continued her reign wearing only black. She survived seven assassination attempts on her life between 1840 and 1882, and died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight on January 22, 1901 after a reign that lasted 64 years.

The Victorian tea party fundraiser was such a success that organizers are considering making it an annual event. There will be more fundraisers this month at the hall. Coming up on Sunday June 22 at 2pm, Chris Murphy and Jon McLurg of Crooked Wood will be performing Celtic and old time gospel tunes in support of the Althorpe-Bolingbroke United Church. On Saturday June 28 at 6pm there will be a roast beef dinner and dance with musical guests Red Rose Express. The popular Bolingbroke Cafe series, which takes place on the first Friday of every month, will be taking a summer hiatus and will commence again in September.

The ABC Hall is located at 3166 Bolingbroke Road