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Saturday, September 20, 2008, 08:00
THE talk over supper for three families from East Harptree often centred on their love of making music. And it wasn't long before the idea of getting together with other like-minded families was floated.
Nothing unusual about that, except the idea turned out to be the inception of one of the country's most unusual orchestras. Most of its players come from the same village, or nearby.
It's been the launch pad, too, for several musicians who now perform with professional orchestras, or have moved into the world of show business. And remarkably, the East Harptree village orchestra celebrated its 21st anniversary this summer.
"Currently, we have 120 musicians in the orchestra," says David Pitts, its conductor and a founder member, who was at the supper party more than two decades ago.
"They all come from this village or the surrounding area. Our orchestra members often join us very young, sometimes playing the recorder when they are eight or nine years old.
"It's rewarding that they enjoy life in the orchestra so much that they stay on into their teens and develop their musical skills. Our adult members are very loyal, too."
David is delighted that several former young members have since gone on to a career in music.
"One girl plays for two professional orchestras in Germany. Justin Woodward is drumming in Mary Poppins the Musical, now running in London, and John Garden plays keyboard with the Scissor Sisters pop band," he says.
"Anyone is welcome to join us, whatever their age, instrument or level of musical accomplishment. They can just come along to a rehearsal on a Friday night. There are no auditions or anything like that."
The orchestra's repertoire is wide-ranging, from classical to light music and film themes. Each year, the dedicated musicians stage a private summer concert in the garden of Harptree Court, the 18th-century home of the late Richard Hill, of the Bristol ship building firm that carried his family name.
Mr Hill, who was prominent in Bristol business circles for many decades, died earlier this year but his widow Mary and their son and daughter-in-law still live in Harptree Court.
"We put up a marquee in the grounds and concert-goers bring a picnic and enjoy this during a Glyndebourne-style interval," says David.
As many as 800 people attend the summer concerts, which have become something of a tradition for the community. The orchestra stages another concert at Christmas, this time in Chew Valley School.
The orchestra is just one aspect of thriving community life in East Harptree, a straggling but picturesque village on the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills – parts of it overlook Chew Valley Lake.
The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the settlement as Herpetrue, "the military road by the wood". But its history probably goes back to Saxon times.
Evidence of a possible Roman occupation lies in the discovery in Harptree Woods in 1887 of a pewter jug containing 1,500 Roman coins, dating from the fourth century. They were given to the British Museum, which kept the best coins and returned the rest to the landowner.
The village once had its own castle. Today, only a few earthworks remain of Richmont Castle, built in the early 12th century.
Over the years, East Harptree has had its generous benefactors, including the man who gave the unusual clock installed in a specially built tower in the middle of the village. It marks Queen Victoria's 60th anniversary as monarch. Around the clock face is the inscription "Time Flies Don't Delay" while around the gable of the tower is the phrase "Heaven's Light Our Guide".
About 600 people live in the village, mainly retired folk and professionals who commute into Bristol or Bath.
The village primary school also serves neighbouring West Harptree. It was founded more than 350 years ago by Sir John Newton, then lord of the manor. Newton, father of 12 daughters and eight sons, has an effigy underneath a canopy in East Harptree church porch.
A campaign is well under way to set up a community shop following the closure of the general store two years ago. A sale of £5 shares among villagers has been successful, with more than 130 sold.
It's hoped that the shop, which will occupy the disused Old Forge on the ground floor of the village hall, will open early next year. It will be run by a manager with volunteer help from villagers.
As well as being a particularly elegant family home, Harptree Court is also the home of Court Garden.
"This is where we grow vegetables, flowers and salads and sell them to people in the village on a Friday afternoon," says Jo Brown, who spends about four hours a day working in the garden.
"Two of us grow the plants while someone else does the strimming, and two others do the weeding and digging.
"It's all done voluntarily and we grow everything to organic principles. We've introduced some unusual vegetables, including yellow courgettes and beans, which makes it more interesting for us.
"The owners of Harptree Court are very generous in letting us use this piece of their garden rent free.
"When we started the garden several years ago, the land was laid to turf and it had to be ploughed before we could plant anything."
Jo has a mailing list of 60-70 people who buy produce from the garden. Flowers from here are also supplied to the 17th-century Waldegrave Arms, named after a prominent family who, in the early 19th century, owned Harptree Court.
It was during a convivial evening in the pub about seven years ago that a couple of villagers talked about putting on an annual arts festival involving as much local talent as possible.
This year's ambitious three-day festival (visit www.harptreesfestival.org) for more information) is taking place this weekend, with almost 30 events from jazz dance to creative cookery and experimental art.
There's even a session about skipping rhymes from playgrounds far and wide. Those attending are advised to take their own rope.
West Harptree
MANY people confuse East and West Harptree, just a mile apart from each other. They probably once formed a large Saxon estate but historians say that by 1084 they had become two.
West Harptree, which stands on the old toll road linking Bristol with Wells, is home to about 500 people.
Its principal building is St Mary's Church, which dates back to the 12th century. It was rebuilt in 1865 but retained its Norman tower, although a spire has been added.
Another prominent building, the Crown Inn, at the centre of the village, replaced a thatched house.
West Harptree's Victorian school was turned into a private home years ago, but the village still has its post office, in contrast to East Harptree, where the one there recently closed under a programme of national cuts.
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