On Saturday 28 September, residents and visitors to the Ironbridge Gorge will be transported back to the 1940s with an evening of live music, dancing and entertainment in the Victorian open-air courtyard at Maws Craft Centre. Organised by a group of Maws businesses, the event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is hoping to attract fans of the rambunctious ‘big band’ sound from across the country.
Eight-piece band String of Pearls will entertain the crowds with a range of Glenn Miller songs, while a Ration Book raffle and Brown Paper Bottle auction promise prizes relevant to the period. Over the years, the evening has raised over £4,000 for charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust, Poppy Appeal, Hope House, Severn Hospice and the Prostate Cancer Screening Appeal, and this year’s beneficiary will be Midlands Air Ambulance.
Organiser Sandra Higson says, “It’s incredible how much the event has grown over the years, from 65 people in the first year to over 200 today. There’s a real family feel to the event, and the courtyard is decorated with bunting and tealights to create a party atmosphere as people in 40s costume dance the Jive and Jitterbug.”
The evening begins at 7.30pm and visitors can bring along a picnic or enjoy authentic food and drink. Tickets are on sale from Janet & Sandra’s Crafts, Unit C23, Maws Craft Centre, Ferry Road, Jackfield or by calling 01952 885999.
