On March 9th 2011 we had a practice with a difference – a surprise birthday party for our oldest dancer, Tony Gomme.
The result of weeks of plotting with dancing friends and family, Tony was kept firmly in oblivion even when Bagman Paul Taverner announced a full kit inspection for March 9th the week before! In fact, Tony was the sole Kemp out of kit...!
Around 70 people were present at St Mark’s Hall - Tony’s family and friends from Fiddlesticks, Golden Star and of course Kemp's – and former Kemp's including Martin Butler who travelled from Letchworth especially.
Aptly, it was an evening of dance with the piece de resistance, a specially commissioned dance - “Strictly Gomme Dancing” written by foreman Tim Huggins to the John Spiers tune “The Gooseberry Bush”, rehearsed covertly after weekly practice once we had got Tony off to the King's Arms.
Tony was presented with a unique gold-edged Kemp's baldrick, lovingly stitched by Wardrobe Mistress Janet, and a certificate proclaiming Tony as a "Nonogommerian” by Squire Peter Mayne.
After the dance ……. around 30 of us repaired for a curry at the Roti restaurant.
It was a great night and one that Tony clearly enjoyed. - Peter