Open Writing

Everyone was there.

John Lennon was in his hippie phase with long flowing locks, naked chest under an open waistcoat strung with beads, signature glasses perched on his bony nose.

James Bond was elegant in his usual dinner jacket, bow tie and shoulder holster. Naturally, he was accompanied by a curvaceous blonde in a strapless little black number, elbow-length black gloves, and long cigarette holder sporting an unlit cigarette.

Sergeant Pepper was also there – many times over. Teddy-boys thronged the dance-floor accompanied by hippies in long flowing dresses with flower-decked headbands holding back long hair. There were mini-skirted wonders in all kinds of colour-schemes, flashing gorgeous legs, their middle-aged faces hidden behind platinum blonde, red, black or brunette nylon tresses.

The stage was decorated with silver and blue streamers and flags; table-cloths were blue with maroon overlays; blue and white balloons bobbed here and there.

It was a Sixties Party, celebrating the sixtieth birthday of our good friend, Roger. His wife, Nina, had spent months putting the occasion together, weaving secret surprises, baking, sewing and rehearsing.

The first surprise of the evening was “Roger Cooter - This is Your Life”; a re-enactment of the sixties television show. Nina had gathered photographs of Roger from his babyhood until the present. These were scanned into a computer presentation, which was projected onto the screen. A surprised and delighted Roger was asked to sit on stage between audience and screen; as each picture was shown, members of Roger’s family and his friends told their memories of times spent in his company, all paying tribute to a kind and gentle man, a man of absolute integrity. At the end, Nina presented Roger with a beautifully printed, bound and boxed ‘This is Your Life’ book containing the photos and the tales.

The food Nina and her friends had prepared was delicious – sixties ‘finger’ snacks from heaven, including the hundred mini-quiches baked that morning. There were sausage rolls, and all kinds of food on toothpicks – little cocktail sausages, cheese and chunks of pineapple, olives and pickled onions; there were little pies, drum-sticks and cheese straws – a culinary walk down memory lane.

After we’d eaten, listening to the Beatles, Elvis and others, Nina’s second great secret was revealed. In turquoise satin and sequins, she and three friends graced the stage, giving a perfectly mimed re-enactment of the singing and dancing girl groups of the sixties, starting with the song, ‘Leader of the Pack’, originally sung by the Shangri-Las. For Roger, one of whose passions is his Harley Davidson motor cycle, this was most appropriate. Our group called themselves the Rogettes. It took months of fun and laughter to rehearse this half-hour cabaret show: their hard work was evident in every polished step, in the lead singer’s poise and perfection.

Then it was time to enjoy little cup-cakes while we listened to some brief speeches. Prizes were awarded for the best fancy-dress costumes – to ‘John Lennon’ and to James Bond and his companion.

The DJ cranked up the volume of those gorgeous sixties classics and talking became impossible. Roger, Nina and their guests danced until the early hours. Everyone was smiling as they said their goodbyes.

It could have been ‘corny’ – a sixties party for a sixtieth birthday. Nina and all Roger’s family and friends, however, paid such attention to detail, from décor to catering to costumes – and to being at the party – that it turned into a truly memorable occasion for all who were there.

Until next time, ‘here comes Treble’!

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