The Chalgrove Midsummer Ball - History

It is thanks to the community spirit in Chalgrove, the plethora of party goers, and the energy of a number of enthusiastic volunteers over the years that the Chalgrove Midsummer Ball is almost as established a part of life in the village as the ducks! 

The Ball is a Black Tie event now held every two years, with three main objectives:

The event, which is attended by around 300 people, is entirely funded by the price of the ticket. The money raised for the charities is raised from a number of sources, primarily the Auction and Raffle, and any profit from the bar takings. Since its inception, the Ball has helped to raise approximately £50,000 for a mixture of local and national charities.

The Chalgrove Midsummer Ball generates badly needed funds for all our local charities, as well as being a wonderful way to spend a summer evening with friends and family. To see the selected charities for 2012, as well as the charities that we have helped previously, please click on the link on the left, titled "The Charities".

The idea for the Chalgrove Ball originally came from a few residents who wanted a local function to give them an excuse to dress up for a good night out rather than have to travel to one of the Oxford Midsummer Balls.

The small team decided to organise the event themselves, and in June 2000 the first Ball was held in a marquee in the field between Berrick Road and Cadwell Lane. With no on-site security on those days, the committee members took turns to sleep in a borrowed caravan on the nights leading up to and after the Ball to keep an eye on the marquee and equipment! The first Ball was attended by 120 people, and it launched the successful formula of a black tie event with live band, grand auction, raffle and disco that has remained in place ever since.

The Midsummer Ball Committee was delighted when, by kind permission of Mr. & Mrs. Jacques, the event moved to the grounds of The Manor, Chalgrove, in 2001. This ensured that the Ball really was a special and unique event - after all, it is not everyone that would allow a marquee to be put up in their back garden for four days!

Initially an annual event, it became biennial in 2004, in part due to the time required by volunteers to organise the event and secure donations, but also to remain mindful of the cost of the event.

The 2006 Ball was very well attended, with well over 300 guests. The weather was very much on our side that year, and it was a beautiful evening on the lawns at the rear of The Manor, sipping Champagne by the lake - so much so that it took a mighty effort to get everyone inside the Marquee to start the Dinner service! Once again hosted by Reuben Lynch, the evening was a wonderful occasion of smart Black Tie and sumptuous Ball Gowns. The auction was a real success, with a great variety of items on offer, and a significant proportion of the total monies raised for the Charities came from this item.

The 2008 Chalgrove Midsummer Ball had a Masked theme, in the manner of the Venetian Masqued Balls of old, and it was a tremendous success, with a wide range of masks on view - including some rather splendid hand-made creations! Hosted by Reuben Lynch, the Ball began with the traditional glass of Champagne, and the revelers were greeted with a fine display of masks at the entrance to the Marquee.

After a couple of games of the ever popular Heads and Tails (which this year was raising funds for the Chalgrove First Responders), a sumptuous dinner was served, and the judging of the best mask took place; won in style by the Reverend Ian Cohen, who decided to dispense with tradition, and opt for what could only be described as a Bugs Bunny mask!

Dinner was followed by the incomparable Platform Soul, who soon filled the dance floor for the first of the opportunities to work off some of the food and drinks. The Grand Auction followed, with some amazing prizes and some serious bidding, which raised several thousand pounds for our nominated charities. Platform Soul then came back for an extended set - they seemed to be enjoying the evening every bit as much as those who filled the dance floor!

The raffle followed at Midnight, again with some excellent prizes, and the evening was rounded off by disco music provided by Moonlite. The Red Lion hosted both the wine service and the bar, and were warmly applauded for their great service.

In 2010, the theme was "Black and White", and the marquee was decorated with a white lining and black swags, with the theme extending to the table decorations. Guests arriving at the Ball were greeted by a receiving line of waitresses bearing trays of Champagne, and the sight of a harpist in the centre of the dance floor playing a variety of music.

Once again, we played Heads and Tails, and sat down to an excellent dinner, before being treated to the spectacular show that is otherwise known as our favourite party band, Platform Soul! This was followed by a very successful Grand Auction, and a follow up set from Platform Soul, who once again played well past their allotted hour, and completely filled the dance floor!

After the midnight raffle, with some spectacular prizes, the music baton was handed over to the wonderful Boogie Nights disco, and the dance floor was still absolutely packed right up until the last possible moment before the Ball drew to a close.

The Midsummer Ball Committee were exhausted but very pleased with the evening, attended by some 230 people, and raising many thousands of pounds for our nominated charities. The only challenge is - how do we improve on that in 2012?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the 7 events and 10 years, the generosity of the guests, support of suppliers, and hands-on approach of the Committee has allowed the Ball to raise around £50,000 for mainly local charities, for whom these donations make a significant difference. Since this became known as a charity event, more people have joined the committee, interested in improving this side of the event.

Every year the Committee welcomes feedback from guests to ensure that we strive to continuously improve the event whilst maximising the fundraising for the charities. In 2012,  guests can expect live music and a glass of fizz on arrival, a professional photographer to provide a memento of the evening, a 3 course sit down meal followed by coffee, a live band, a disco, an MC, excellent and in many cases exclusive auction and raffle prizes, a full bar with normal pub prices, wine-waiter service, pre-ordering of wine, and a beautifully decorated marquee in the wonderful Manor grounds.

 We hope that through the dedication of the committee, the support of our suppliers and partners, and the tremendous generosity of our guests, the Chalgrove Midsummer Ball will continue to be as well loved and established as the Chalgrove ducks, and continue to achieve its 3 objectives:

Raise money for local charities,

Bring the community together,

Have a good time!