'The best event in the village...ever'

PARISHIONERS of Aldenham rallied round to supply food for the parish's millennium party at the weekend, after a last minute hitch.

A mobile medieval kitchen was due to cook food - including a hog roast - during the two-day Aldenham 2000 Millennium Festival at Edge Grove School playing fields in Radlett Road, Aldenham, but a road accident two days before damaged the vehicle and left organisers with a mad dash to find a new facilities.

Event organiser Mr Brian Hyde said: 'Ye Olde Medieval Kitchen was to be the main-stay of food supplies but the company was involved in a serious accident on the M1, so we had to improvise.'

The Round Bush public house, off Radlett Road in Round Bush, came to the rescue, along with other community groups, and staff spent last Friday buying burgers and sausages and borrowing a barbecue to ensure visitors did not go hungry.

Those attending the festival - themed Britain Through the Ages - were able to sit in the sun and enjoy Morris dancers, falconry displays, drama from the Dark Ages Society and live music from a host of local artists, including Roy Willox, Can O'Biskits, Monk Slinky and Ray Minhinnett.

Highlights included performances by the Mackrill Skehill Irish Dancing troupe, based in Watford, on both evenings, music from the Glentrew Pipe Band and a tug of war competition.

Stalls, a beer tent, pony rides, dodgems, a fire engine and crew from Radlett Fire Station, members of the East of England branch of the Territorial Army, and a display by Bovingdon Stock Cars added to the festival atmosphere.

Two visitors travelled 12,000 miles to attend the event.

Mr Ralph Scivyer and his wife, Pearl, made sure their bi-annual trip to Britain from Sydney, Australia, coincided with the festival.

Mr Scivyer was born in Aldenham but moved to Australia in 1960.

A pupil of the former Delrow School in Summerhouse Lane, Aldenham, in the 1930's, Mr Scivyer said he had kept in touch with Mr Hyde and was told to book the event in his diary two years ago.

He said: 'It's good to see everybody. I've met people I haven't seen for 50 years. I enjoy coming back.

'Brian's done a good job and deserves a medal.'

The event - believed to be the biggest held in the parish - took more than two years to organise and cost £7,000.

Money was raised from donations, ticket sales and sponsorship from local companies.

Any proceeds will be ploughed into community projects and wildlife projects in the parish.

Aldenham 2000 was the brainchild of Mr Hyde, a local historian and retired policeman.

He said: 'I decided to do it, and gathered a committee of helpers around me.

'I have done other events in the past but this is my biggest one. It's been a wonderful event.'