Millennium Parties in Cross Lane

remniscences from Denise Powell

Long Acre, which has a remarkable decorated doorway.

The Millennium celebrations on the night of 31^st December 1999 were a night to remember! One party met at David’s and my home, Long Acre, which faces The Square, at 7.30 pm.

Our guests were Ann and Paul Austin, Trudie and Barbara Buxton, Joan and Derek Morris, Val and Roger Miles, Ros and Julian Partis, Kim and Sue Ross (Americans working at the Upper Heyford Air Force Base) and, from Church Street, Ann and Tony Smith, and from Wappenham Road, Pauline and Peter Payne.

Here are some photos from the occasion. Click to enlarge.

Joan Morris (left) and
Derek Morris.

Tony Smith & Ann Smith.

Ann and Paul Austin.

Barbara Buxton (left) Pauline Payne and Ann Smith.

We had a grand menu to which all the partygoers contributed. It included Bucks Fizz, a starter of salmon mousse or salmon roulade, mains of spiced beef and Guinness Pie or Sunnyside chicken, and a selection of vegetables, followed by trifle and all other sorts of sweet delights, a cheeseboard, and coffee.

Then from 10.30 p.m. onwards the Long Acre party joined a Millennium Celebration at Leigh and Lee Sparrow’s home, Hill View, at the end of Cross Lane, where they were also joined by Jean and Simmonds and David and Gillian Darbyshire (who had had their own dinner party at the The Old Cross), and Neil Buckley and Irene Inness from Wychwood.

Drinks at the start of the party.

There was live music and dancing in their large lounge to, as the programme said, “the fabulous sounds of The Charm Band”.

The dancing begins…

…and the singing.

Pauline Payne gets into the spirit of it.

Irene Inness and Neil Buckley.

(Left to right) Peter and Jean Simmonds, Roger and Val Miles.

Ann Smith (left) and Trudie Buxton.

We watched the fireworks at midnight from over Northampton way. This crowned what had been a splendid day.

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee 2002

This was a very successful occasion, enjoyed by all who paticipated.

2012
Cross Lane also celebrated this event. It took the form of a buffet in awnings erected outside The Old Cross and was notable for the fact that the rain poured down the whole time, and unless you sitting or standing under cover you got soaked! We did our best, and the food, contributed by all the guests, was delicious, but, try as we may, we were beaten by the weather.

Maybe we shall have a party to celebrate the end of Pandemic lockdown. Who knows!

Denise Powell
2020