Letters to the Editors
That Festival
Dear Editors,
I believe that the Swaffham Prior Festival was generally thought to be a great success and I really appreciate everyone who was involved. Special thanks have to go to a number people: Dee Noyes & Janet Wilmott - .they were there for me at the 'drop of a hat'from beginning to end - they really are such 'super'women. A very special and warm thank you to Christopher Walkinshaw who paid for and arranged for the printing of the Festival Programmes. The Marshall Motor Group for their generosity in sponsoring some very special prizes. The Rev. David Lewis kept me going and helped, supported and guided me throughout the 18 months it took to arrange the Festival, whizzing through any problems - he really has been truly blessed by God!
The Festival opened with beautifully arranged scented flowers in St Mary's church. Ruth Scovil and our very own village Flower Ladies created arrangements, not a Newmarket shop as some people thought. WOW & Note for a Child later totally transformed the church - and the 'Pimms'in the Pews was enjoyed by those who came. Both Rev. Gill Smith & Susie's heavenly voices along with the musical instruments from around the world were just amazing. The ladies of the WI are so professional and really know how to hold events - Village Teas & the Comedy Night. Hilary Sage and friends staged "The Lighter Side of Village Life" - a superb production of real, traditional comedy! For anyone that missed Coup de Grass and the Cage Hill Hillbillies on the first Saturday evening - it was a sell out! They were fabulous and they promised they will come back again very soon.. Tap Dancing attracted people from all walks of life and it was a lot of fun. It was very 'moving'to see Ron Prime's wonderful film of "The Bell Tower"amongst other things and to see old faces again in further footage - we munched our way through Pop Corn and glasses of wine whilst watching. The filming and commentary were every bit as professional and absorbing as current TV productions, betraying Ron's background. Thank you to the Artists who donated a piece of Artwork to be auctioned on the opening evening and to those also kindly donating a percentage of the sales of their paintings during the Art Exhibition. Clive Riggs & Paul Abbott both gave a lot of time and a huge amount of effort and support in setting up the whole Art Exhibition. The Festival ended with another highlight - Ian de Massini with Cambridge Voices & The Orchestra of Reason staging Handel's Messiah. The Trumpeter was astounding and the rest was pure magic! Then to finish off, Ian's exquisite Piano Recital raised the most money per person in spite of free admission.
I would like to thank you all for having confidence and believing that it was possibly to arrange this Festival after many years of absence. The final tally was around £1,600 profit - well done to all.
Play Scheme
Dear Editor,
This past summer I somehow stumbled into being in charge of organising this year's Playscheme, 'no' having temporarily slipped from my vocabulary. However, as a relative newcomer to Swaffham Prior I am compelled to say that the whole experience has left me feeling immensely privileged to live in a community (on this occasion includes Reach, pockets of Burwell and farms further a field) so full of kind, helpful and incredibly talented people willing to donate their time to helping make our children happy. A big thank you to everyone involved including the organising committee members, session leaders and helpers; to Emma Vincent and Beverly O'Dowd at the school and to the Village Hall Committee and in particular Barbara Dennis for her patience and kindness. Many thanks as well to Snakehall Farm for their massive support of our vegetable garden project and to the school's new neighbours the Burwell Tigers for running the football sessions. Thank you also to organisers past for creating and maintaining such a great tradition for the children of our community and finally...thanks especially to the children themselves who this year were without exception models of good behaviour whilst demonstrating extraordinary creativity and talent in so many different ways! I look forward to seeing all of you next year at Playscheme!
The Striking Clock
Dear Editors,
As a resident of Tothill Road I am expressing my view on the striking clock issue. As far as I am aware, my neighbours and certainly my husband and I were not against it striking. I cannot speak for everyone, but the ringing would not wake us in the morning as we do not LIE IN at the weekend nor would it keep us awake at night. Big Ben it is not. As for children, as I remember, when my son was a child, he would sleep through anything and still does at 25 years of age. When we moved to the village, which was 22 years ago now, we loved to hear the church bells ring, and still do. I don't think the clock striking is going to bother us. I can honestly say that we don't even notice it. It's what you get used to and if you choose to live in a village, then church bells are part of the village way of life. I would rather hear bells than live in a town with traffic noise, which we did before moving to Swaffham Prior. To the best of my knowledge, there was only one person who was against the clock striking at certain times and he lives in Greenhead Road. I don't think it's fair to say Tom R was speaking on behalf of ALL Tothill residents, as I or my husband have never met him and wouldn't even know what he looks like. I only know that he also is a resident of Greenhead Road.
As for the children playing on Coopers Green, Tothill doesn't even look out over the green so why would anyone want to complain. In fact it was Tothill residents (some years ago now), who got a petition up to maintain the green so our children and others could play there, my son included. I do wish people would get their facts straight before pointing the finger. And a few words on Shakespeare. He's Dead get over it.
Quiz Night
Dear Editors,
We would like to thank everyone for their contributions for the quiz raffle. A special thank-you goes to Pru and Clifton, who always make up a lovely grocery box - it is much appreciated, as are all of the prizes. Thank-you again
And thank-you, Lyne and Jenny, for always organising such a good quiz (see Editorial). Eds.
Cage Hill Soap Box Challenge
Dear Eds,
The organisation of this event has been appropriately slow, but I can confirm at long last one detail...the date!
If the event goes ahead it will happen on Feast Day in May prior to the Feast Event itself. Start time will be determined by the number of entrants, probably noon and end by 2pm
Now for the rest...
I intend to keep the whole thing uncomplicated and FUN.
At present the rules are simple and can be summed up as follows; enter at your own risk & build it yourself. It must have 4 wheels and carry one person only. Brakes are now allowed. Successfully negotiate a course running down Cage Hill and on to the High Street.
Due to preliminary tests on the distance idea, it has become apparent that this will not be feasible so a timed run principle is to be adopted with a couple of gentle slaloms to add to the challenge.
I hope each entrant will be able to complete the course 3-5 times.
Organisers (that's me) reserve the right to refuse participation on any grounds.
Spectators will be able to see the course from start to finish from the bottom of the hill.
Any incurred costs will be covered by the entrants and by any kind sponsors who come out of the wood work!
I need provisional entrants to confirm that they will definitely be taking up the challenge so that I can arrange the following important issues:
Local Police to be notified - because we are using the highway!
Residents of Cage Hill and the middle part of the High Street need to asked if they are "ok" with the idea and are generally happy to not park their cars on the relevant roads during the event. So if you live between Cage Hill near Greer- Head Road and on the High Street from the bottom of the hill to the phone box on the High Street, please let me know of your concerns. (You will get a letter through your door soon.)
Public Liability Insurance will be needed in case some one not taking part gets hurt then involves one of the ambulance chasing solicitors who bombard us with adverts for their services.
I reckon that I will need up to 5 people to help with marshalling the event - any volunteers?
Any questions to me direct or via the Crier.
Thanks