Swaffham Prior Playscheme 2003
Another summer playscheme and a week of sweltering weather. What a combination!
As 90 children descended on Swaffham Prior for a week of intense activity the temperature swiftly climbed. By the end of the very first session the mercury was nudging 90 degrees. Just who would wilt first, the youngsters or the organisers, was anyone's guess. But, in true playscheme tradition, everyone became so engrossed in enjoying the moment that they forgot the heat.
This year there were even more popular activities. As well as rollerskating sessions at Burwell Sports Centre and fishing trips to the local riverbank there were opportunities for basketball, football, tennis and swimming. Old favourites such as drama, cookery and cake modelling were complemented by a full range of activities in the craft room, which included candle making, tie-dye and glass-painting. Youngsters let their imaginations run riot to produce an impressive underwater art attack scene in the school playground, viewed from the top of a scaffolding tower. There was a constant hub of activity at the Station Road end of school as children took it in turns to bring a rather drab wall to life with a collection of colourful murals. On Friday the village rocked to the heady sound of "junk funk", a session where children literally made music out of old bits of rubbish. Those who preferred a more hi-tech approach spent a morning recording their efforts in the "sound studio". Even the pre-school children were entertained with their own range of activities in the creche.
Playscheme has become an established item on the village calendar and has consistently grown in appeal, culminating in record numbers this year. It's not possible to run something on this scale without the help of volunteers and we are all extremely grateful to those villagers, parents, relatives and friends who gave their support. Special thanks also go to Marshall's Airport, Cambridgeshire Police and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, particularly the latter for helping to cool the children down with a hose demonstration on the last day!
Finally, on behalf of the many parents whose children had a ball, our thanks go to a small team of dedicated organisers who worked so hard to make the week such a success. Dee Noyes, Mandy Kingsmill, Tracy Jeacock, Jo Pumfrey, Mark Lewinski, Liz Tabecka, Sue Wade, Trish Norman and Kathy Judge certainly earned their celebratory post-playscheme drink at the Red Lion!
Here's to next year ...