THE Old Court Hotel at Symonds Yat hosted its 21st free Summer Garden Party to raise funds for local charities.

Last Sunday saw performances by top local musicians and Wild Oats Morris Dancers performing on a stage in the hotel’s garden in the grounds of the historic 16th-century coaching inn.

The charity this year was Pegasus, which helps to aid men’s welfare and prevent suicide and proceeds from the garden party totalled £1,400.

Spencer James, the guitarist for the famous Searchers, known for the hits ‘Sweets for My Sweet’ and ‘Needles and Pins’, assisted with the public address system and signed autographs throughout the event.

One of the party’s highlights was when Michael got up on the stage went down on one knee and in front of the 600 or so audience proposed to his girlfriend Carly Brokenshire, who accepted his proposal and this was greeted with a cheer from the crowd.

“I have never seen anything like that before in my many years in entertainment,” said Tony Davis who organised the event.

Jono Smith Milne joint owner of the Old Court said: “He is local lad and I had an idea he might do something like that.”

After the Wild Oats Morris dancers had performed their routine, they encouraged volunteers to take part in the traditional dancing with the volunteers using sticks as part of the novice dancing.

The Morris dancers also donated their fee for the event into the charity’s bucket.

Adding to the atmosphere were the dancers from Jive by the Wye who demonstrating their routines throughout the event in front of the event’s musicians.

The bands who played were Banshee, The Hickory Stick Boys, Natalie, Big Jim and American Eric along with The Jolly boys and Serf, a promising young band from Ross.