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Festival AGM – a good positive meeting
Whitchurch Festival AGM
Sunday 6th December 2009
White Hart Hotel
A very well-attended meeting was held at the White Hart and it was excellent to see new faces volunteering to become involved and stepping forward to assist with the organisational and planning of next year's events.
Rob Dunlop opened the meeting with a review of the last two years and gave an insight into how the community has pulled together from the relaunch of the Pub Race in 2008 to the recent Fireworks on the Meadow. The meeting was buzzing with the success of the events and agreed that the following programme should be run in 2010. Timings/dates are very provisional – especially as next year's football World Cup has to be accounted for!
The events are:
- Carnival Queen
Selection: Mid-Late Feb
Crowning: Around May-Day
Public Appearances: Various - Pub Race: End of May Bank Holiday Sunday
- Carnival Procession: Mid-Late July (including the post-procession event)
- We'll Meet Again
- Fireworks Display
A Committee was elected, and with some people stepping back, and changing focus there was some reshuffling. With newfaces involved, there is now a very strong team committed to ensuring 2010 events even surpass 2009's. Of particular celebration is that Annabel, the 2009 Carnival Queen has joined the group.
The elected Committee are:
- Chairman: Rob Dunlop
Vice Chairman: Peter Williams
Treasurer: Nev Bright
Secretary: Cindy Dunlop
Publicity & Promotion: Julia Trotter
Webmaster: John Buckley
Committee: Annabel Sankey, Ross Jones, Gary Hunt, Pauline Williams,Caroline O'Brien.
(I hope all the names are right. Shout if not HERE)
The evening ended with a fine buffet and thanks must go to the White Hart for providing the venue.
So now its all go...AND...
The Committee is always looking for help. Its first meeting will be at 8pm on Sunday 13th December at the Harvest Home. Here the organisation of the main events will be determined and anyone who is interested in assisting with the detailed running of these is encouraged to attend.
See preview of 2010 web front page here
2010 - It's your chance to help!
The Whitchurch Festival Committee are always looking for extra help. Some of it is hard work, most isn't, but all of it is certainly a lot of fun, and its a good crowd involved.
As in all voluntary groups, more assistance is always welcome.
Two of the stalwarts who helped relaunch the Carnival/Festival events are stepping aside, highlighting the need for both new and more support from the community for next year.
Michelle Nailor who was instrumental in much of the early Carnival Queen arrangements is unfortunately moving away from Whitchurch, while another key supporter who provided much good organisational assistance is also stepping aside for 2010. The Festival Committee and the Town thanks these and everyone who supports the events for their hard work and committment.
If anyone would like to help in any small way for the 2010 events would they please contact Rob on 07917 724980 or
Email: ENQUIRIES
14th November...
WE'LL MEET AGAIN SUPPER
For details email HERE
NEW EVENT FOR OCTOBER
Whitchurch Festival, Whitchurch Arts and the Millennium Meadow worked together to run some exciting events on 31st October. From a Pumpkin decoration and a Guy competition, to a display of fireworks on the meadow it was a great example of successful organisations cooperating for the good of our Town.
See the Report and pictures HERE
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
WHITCHURCH SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
SATURDAY 29th AUGUST
After the successful Pub Race, Procession and Meadow, a record payout of around £2000 is has been made to local Good Causes from the 2009 Festival Funds.
Presentations were made by the Carnival Queen and Princess at the Whitstock Music and Beer Festival run by Keith Bell, CAMRA and the Social Club.
There was plenty of fun, music and local real ale to enjoy, as well as a wide selection of good food. This was the first time such a joint event was held and was voted a resounding success, being packed most of the day.
The Club is is going through a renaissance and is fast becoming one of the town's top venues for events.
This year's Good Causes recipients from the Festival Funds were:
- Cats Protection League (website)
- Friends of Whitchurch Silk Mill (website)
- Hampshire Cycle Training (website)
- Jordan Lucas (see youtube)
- Millennium Meadow (website)
- Oak Tree Nursery (website)
- Rising Fives Playschool (website)
- Singing for Fun
- Sustainability Forum
- Whitchurch Amateur Dramatic Society (WADS) (website)
- Whitchurch Ambulance Station
- Whitchurch Arts (website)
- Whitchurch Brownies
- Whitchurch Community Police
- Whitchurch Fire Service
- Whitchurch Parish Hall
- Whitchurch Web (website)
- Whitchurch We'll Meet Again Supper
NEW (added 23th July)...
PROCESSION AND MEADOW EVENTS VIDEO:
We now have a wonderful record of the Procession and the events on the Meadow. ENJOY.
Whitchurch Festival Procession & Carnival (June 2009) from Andrew Reeves-Hall on Vimeo.
JULY 6th:
A full set of terrific Photographs now available for viewing here...
PUB RACE
PROCESSION and MEADOW events.
Legal Stuff: photos are ©2009 Andrew Reeves-Hall and are licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND.
Please contact us HERE if you would like further information on them.
JUNE 21st:
PROCESSION AND MEADOW EVENTS - a brilliant success
The weather was perfect, the crowds turned out and the colourful procession led by the Festival's Queen and her attendants set off down Evingar Road and through the Town. Cheers met the entries, buckets were shaken, coins tossed and Big Wide Smiles were everywhere. To the music of John Dennett's band, the parade passed through the Square on its way to the Meadow where packed crowds gathered for the finale. Stalls, games and music made a terrific end to a great day and grateful thanks go to all who made the event possible.
Good Causes:
Funds raised are joining those from the Pub Race. The Festival Committee determines which local Good Causes will be the 2009 recipients.
Thank you to Andrew Reeves-Hall for the Photography
MAY 24th:
PUB RACE BREAKS ALL RECORDS
Brilliant sunshine saw a record 28 teams set off from this year's new start, the Prince Regent. Waved off by the Carnival Queen and Princess and the Town's new Mayor Councillor Vince Bradbury, the teams embarked on their quest to visit all the Town's pubs collecting for charity on the way.
There was a terrific standard of fancy dress from the amazing robots to a pair of rowing boats!
Crowds packed the pubs around the route as the teams raced in to enjoy a beer, rattled their collecting buckets and ran (or wobbled) off to the next checkpoint. Music, BBQs and lots of other fun were provided in many of the pubs without whom the event could not take place.
Around £2500 has been raised, twice as much as last year, which will be distributed to local good causes. More may come in throufh sponsorship. A special event is being arranged for August 30th - mark the Diary now!
The Pub Race ended with awards being made at the Social Club where a Disco rocked 'til late - and even more beer was enjoyed by those able!
The winners are listed HERE:
Thank you to all who helped make it a wonderful day, in the words of Rob the Festival Chairman - "Awesome".
The next events from the Festival organisers are the Procession, Fun on the Meadow and Festival Party on 20th June.
MAY 3rd:
CARNIVAL QUEEN CROWNED
What a fantastic day it was on the Millennium Meadow this Saturday (May 2nd). when over 100 people saw the Crowning of the Carnival Queen and Princess. The weather was superb as the Mayor and Mayoress led Annabel Sankey, Rhianna England and the attendants on to the Meadow to rapturous applause. Peter and Pauline were undertaking their last official event of the year before the chain of office is handed over.
Traditional Maypole Dancing set the scene as the crowds gathered to watch last year's Queen crown the new starting an exciting year for our new 'royalty'.
Pond Dipping and a Mobile Science Lab were an added attraction and visitors to the meadow were also able to see the new Children's Gathering Circle. Utmost thanks must go to the Meadow for hosting this event.
The Millennium Meadow's own website can be found HERE, and Festival events and a further report on the Crowning can also be found on a new Festival Forum HERE as well as HERE.
MAY 3rd:
PUB RACE PLANS PROGRESS and other NEWS
Plans for the Pub Race are now underway for Sunday May 24th with the route now confirmed as the Prince Regent, the Railway, the Bell, the Kings Arms, the White Hart, the Red House, the Harvest Home and the Sports and Social Club where there will be entertainment. Entry Forms can be picked up from any of the Town's pubs or are downloadable HERE. Grateful thanks is made to all the pubs who are supporting this year's event and are donating beer for the teams.
NEW EVENT
A new event has been confirmed - a Presentation evening for handing out funds from this years's event to the selected 'Good Causes'.
This will be on Sunday 30th August at the Sports & Social Club. This is the same weekend as the new combined Whitstock/CAMRA Beer Festival event. See HERE.
Further details will be available nearer the date.
QUEEN, PRINCESS and ATTENDANTS SELECTED
The Festival/Carnival Queen has been selected at an event at the Whitchurch Sports and Social Club.
12-year old Annabel Sankey was the judges favourite and will now go on to be crowned at the Millennium Meadow Maypole Dancing activities on 2nd May. Mark the Diary Now! Rhianna England (11) was selected as the Princess.
Above Left: Mayor Peter Williams is flanked by Annabel and Rhianna who are accompanied by their attendants. Right: Annabel, who will be crowned on May 2nd.(Thank you to Eric Dunlop for pictures)
Meanwhile the current Queen will perform one of her last engagements this Easter Monday, when she accompanies Whitchurch Arts in the judging of a colouring competition at the White Hart.
NEW FORUM
A new Forum for the discussion of Festival activities has been created. Why not log in and join the very friendly discussions of the Festival and any other local matters!
See HERE
LATEST
UPDATES
Note: You may need to 'Refresh' to see latest updates
07.12.09
General and NEWS updates including AGM Report.
© Whitchurch Festival 2009
Festival images © Andrew Reeves-Hall.
Other images © John pb.
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