TWELFTH NIGHT TRIUMPH
5th - 6th January 2008
Halsway Manor reopened last weekend with a Twelfth Night week end of dance, music and celebration. This second annual "end of the festive season" event was attended by around 30 guests, many local but some from as far away as Birmingham and Surrey.
Alan Corkett, event producer and a Trustee of Halsway Manor, said "This is often a quiet time after the holidays so we stage an event far more relaxed and laid back than our normal courses. It helps people unwind after the hectic Christmas and New Year Celebrations."
Mr Corkett added, “I am delighted that we have repeated the success of last year's event. Preparations for 2009 are already underway!”
The weekend was led by folk dance caller Mike Courthold from Berkshire with music provided by popular local band "Meltdown". It included workshops where guests could brush up on their dance technique and an evening ceilidh, or dance, to let their hair down.
Photos of the weeekend are now on-line at
http://halswaymanor.org/events/event-pix/20080105/
The Manor was closed from 2nd to 5th January following an outbreak of a severe viral infection ("Norovirus") amongst guests and staff. The closure allowed the Trustees to put in place a programme of "deep cleaning" in line with best practice in these situations. This prompt action by the Halsway management has allowed us to keep disruption to a minimum. The Course due to take place during the closure was relocated to a nearby hotel.
The Health Protection Agency web site comments that "Outbreaks of norovirus are reported frequently in semi-closed institutions such as hospitals, schools, residential and nursing homes and hotels. Anywhere that large numbers of people congregate for periods of several days provides an ideal environment for the spread of the disease."
http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/norovirus/faq.htm
7th January 2008 |
