Raising the Roof!

Oh, what a magical evening we had with Cornish accomplices at our recent ‘Raising the Roof' party! On the last sunny weekend in September, Love-Spotters from Tristan & Yseult welcomed guests to our cliff-top barns for an exclusive evening of performance, poetry, music and feasting - all in much appreciated support of The Kneehigh Asylum.

To reach a happy ending, all stories must start with a quest! Liebowitz & Pritchard, Architects and Yacht Designers, decided to journey from Falmouth by land rather than sea and endured some tricky tangles with the cunningly concealed granite in Cornish hedges. They finally managed to find us at the top of our remote and winding lane and Erica Pritchard's father Roger even made it all the way from California to be with us! All had an enchanting evening that we hope was well worth the hurdles they had to overcome.

Sarah Lillicrap, however, proved that Truro Estate Agent Lillicrap Chilcott can always find the fine waterfront properties that they are looking for. Meanwhile, Tregothnan Estate - best known for its fine traditional teas grown in Cornwall - enjoyed a unique brew of Cornish theatre, as did friends from Trelowarren (Environmental Building Contractors) and The Flying Boat Club on Tresco.

Deborah Hinton and Richard Baker were greeted by Cornish pipers crossing the tumbling fields and our new friends from The County Homesearch Company, Hotel Tresanton and Classic Cottages admired the breath-taking view stretching far beyond Dodman Point on that miraculously beautiful evening, and sipped prosecco under the still blue sky.

Our super-stylish friends from gorgeous Truro-based Opium boutique, web agency Into3D, Illumina Lighting & Interiors and the Cotton Mills enjoyed the tremendous Kneehigh band. They tapped their toes and swung their hips to songs from Cymbeline, Nights at the Circus, A Matter of Life and Death and Don John. To make sure the memories last forever, everyone got a CD of the soundtrack to Don John (along with other glittering goodies) to take home.

Alison Bunning blew out the candle on a cupcake to celebrate her birthday! Karen Townshend, Jane Turnbull & Brian Perman, Paul & Rosie Jackson and Caroline Righton all led the Kneehigh band and other guests in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.

Jane Hartley and Claudia Zeff & John Brown ended the evening with a wonderful supper around a roaring fire, accompanied by sweet night-time harmonies, whilst Rebecca Jay left the ordered world of The Dodo Pad to be serenaded by the poetry of Charles Causley. Oh, the stars shone bright that wonderful night!

Generosity abounded with local companies giving wonderful donations: vintage china from Charlotte Lean of Cornwall DMC; Betty Stoggs beer from Skinners' Brewery; delicious Cornish Yarg cheese from Lynher Dairies; and goody bag goodies from Uneeka.

Thank you friends for a truly special night. We were blessed indeed!

Oh, and one more memory for luck...The mysterious cameo of an unknown hunter, spotted wielding a shotgun and a fine brace of dead rabbits. He was dramatic, Cornish and with impeccable comic timing, but sadly he was not part of the performance!