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The silence seemed endless as we waited for Professor Swann to draw the winning raffle ticket for the very first Centenary Marlene silver brooch. As she announced the winner the silence was shattered by the clapping of the club members and Period Living guests. We were gathered to watch the last event in what had been a very busy afternoon packed with many interesting activities. Hours earlier we were fearful that the weather would not hold, this had been brought on by the storm that raged Friday night. Thankfully Saturday and Sunday were sunny with just a few clouds, ideally suited to a garden party.

Some eager members had arrived early as they had travelled from as far away as the Isle of Wight and Scotland. But a gritty determination to celebrate Clarice’s 100th birthday at Chetwynd was required by members who had travelled from North America, New Zealand and Australia!

Wine or a summer fruit punch was served as people arrived and we socialised on the lawn which was surrounded by a profusion of colourful flowers and plants. With careful planning, which started with some sowing last summer, Flavia and her green-fingered partner John, had captured the look and feel of all those years ago when it was Clarice and Colley’s garden.

Flavia extended a warm welcome to C.C.C.C. members and explained that it was a double celebration in that the house had been built the year Clarice was born. Len then thanked all the people who had been involved in the two day event and Flavia for agreeing to host the celebration.

A buffet lunch was served. The food was delicious with Flavia’s secret recipe Turkey Orientale, fish and vegetarian dishes and other garnishes, accompanied by more wine. Strawberries followed and later coffee and truffles were served.

Inside the house the display by BananaDance had many fabulous pieces of Clarice for sale, but what made this even more interesting was that it was magnificently arranged on the original Parker and Unwin fitted Arts and Crafts side board in the lounge. In the cosy room with a further inglenook on the other side of the house were the Wedgwood and Club stalls both displaying a variety of treats.

In the garden was a stall of hand-painted ware by Terry Abbotts, which included a coffeepot painted recently, Elsie Nixon put Delecia one side, and Jessie Mackenzie had put Gibraltar on the other! Terry is the club member who has learnt how to paint the original Crocus from Ethel Barrow. She and Elsie joined us as did May Booth, Phyllis Tharme, Annie Beresford, Rene Dale, Alice Andrews and Jim Hall. Many members descended on Norman Smith post-War manager at Wilkinson’s and close friend of Clarice and Colley, who told stories all afternoon! A rare 1950’s teaset given to a local woman by Clarice in 1959 also appeared and will be shown in colour in the October '99 Review!

In the house Terry Abbott’s video of Ethel Barrow ‘The Crocus Girl’ was shown throughout the afternoon to a packed room; seeing Bizarre ‘girl’ May Booth squatting on the floor watching it was a slightly surreal sight!

The celebration cake appeared! In the form of a Stamford teapot in the Gayday design it looked bright and tasted tasty. It was served with champagne ~ twelve bottles were cracked open simultaneously and Flavia gave a toast to Clarice to celebrate her one hundredth birthday.

Both days were relaxed and informal with people strolling about the garden, some explored the house, others sat and chatted by the side of the inglenook where .years earlier John Butler had painted the source of the Knight Errant design on the panel above the hearth. In the garden groups of members exchanged stories of finds or reminisced about what it was like collecting Clarice 20 years earlier.

It was a wonderful event and one that will be fondly remembered. It was also rather poignant in that it was the last of the main events planned for the centenary year. As members dispersed many could be seen exchanging addresses and telephone numbers. Again, it had been a day of not just celebration but of making friends.

Thank you Professor Swann!

MS