Blaxhall Festival Weekend - 2004
During the last weekend in June, Blaxhall held
a festival involving several locations and various attractions. The event
was exceptionally well organised, with several people working overtime to
ensure everything ran smoothly. The fruits of their labour are best illustrated
by the fact that all who attended very much enjoyed themselves, and secondly
the event raised in excess of £2000 which will go to St Peter’s church.
The most pressing work required in the church at present is an overhaul
of the organ, and by pulling out all the stops everyone involved in the
organisation of the festival has gone a considerable way to ensuring Purcell
and Albinoni sound as good as ever under the hammer beams of Blaxhall church.
The event kicked off on Saturday, with the opening of the Flower Festival
in the Church. Some wonderful displays were on offer, with interesting
diversions in the form of pictorial depictions of Blaxhall houses undergoing
renovation. In addition, at the back of the church, under the tower, the
display boards from the hall were put to good use exhibiting a great selection
of photographs from around Blaxhall at the turn of the century.
Ploughmans lunches, teas and cakes (all made in Blaxhall, and delicious
too!) were available from the hard working volunteers in the churchyard.
A large covered dining area was provided, though thankfully the weather
was excellent for most of the weekend.
Opening at the same time was the Art Exhibition in the village hall. Several styles
were represented, and I understand 19 paintings sold over the weekend.
Postcards and prints were also sold, in conjunction with the Festival
raffle tickets.
At Longfield Nursery on both days over the weekend there was a display of
craft work, all from local people. Tea and biscuits were available, and
several displays spread around the capacious buildings made the visit
well worthwhile.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the Saturday evening Medley, held in the village church. Many parishioners participated in giving a great all round performance, although Diane Keeble did admit afterwards to forgetting the lines to "Morning has Broken" and singing the same verse three times (sorry Diane!). Funnily enough, no-one noticed, and "Danny Boy" was a triumph.
Conditions were not photo friendly in the church that evening, but I captured
a shot from the belfry towards the end of magnificent audience participation;
all of us belting out "Blaxhall’s Blooming" to the familiar
tune of "Frere Jacques"! (Click
here to see the program)
Around 100 people were present that evening, a good indicator of the popularity
of the Festival. It was a chance to see some great arts and crafts, as well as the industry
and inventiveness of Blaxhall itself.
There’s one final picture, of our
Reverend Barrie Slatter (who himself did a wonderful turn at the Medley
as St. Peter), flanked by friends and family. The picture was taken from
the Church tower, showing from above the wonderful and well kept churchyard.
More views from the tower can be seen on the Photo
Pages.
The fete is the next big event in the calender, but here’s to next year’s Festival.