New Years Eve At Didgemere

A Memory of Didgemere Hall.

My parents farmed in Hertford Heath, only a short drive from my Uncles home in Roydon, as did my Grandfather from Nazeing. An uncle and aunt lived in Ashridge Park in Hemel Hempstead so rather further away from Roydon than us. My favourite uncle lived at Didgemere Hall, Roydon and every year our families would descend on Uncle Angus’s home for an evening of Eightsome Reels, Highland Flings and numerous other Scottish dances enjoyed in Didgemeres’ magnificent hall. The Valentine family originally descended from the Scottish Highlands, something we children were thankfully constantly reminded of so Scottish dancing at Didgemere at ‘Hogmanay’ became an annual ritual. I remember a constant flow of traditional Christmas delicious food brought from the kitchen, the great fire roaring and crackling, the 25-35 foot magnificently decorated Christmas tree and the grand minstrel gallery, all images and memories which contributed to our gaiety and evening delights.

Many years later, my beloved Uncle Angus offered me Didgemere Hall as a Wedding venue. It was a wonderful day but unfortunately like with most weddings, the events of the day come and go all too quickly so my memories are rather blurred but nothing will blur or leave me, my siblings, my cousins and our children with fabulous memories dancing around the Christmas tree at Didgemere on New Years Eve.

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