Friends News - July 2023
Dear Friends of All Saints Church,
You will be aware that we held a successful plant stall at the end of May where we took £1200, helped by the weather - a glorious sunny day - but the success was down to the growers of the plants and, of course, villagers who supported this event. It was fabulous to see so many fill the street in such a friendly, neighbourly, village atmosphere. The event was hard work; many of us had been growing plants in difficult conditions - the spring weather was so cold, and some started very early on the morning of the plant stall transporting their many plants to the Village Green where generous support was given in putting up and positioning the stalls to filling them with goods for sale. Contributions from villagers was in some cases most generous and their plants were so gratefully received, whether they were delivered prior to the event, or on the day. Other villagers supported by spending and buying our plants in volume. I must not forget the caterers with coffee and cake in the Parish Hall and the contributions of such edible delights and the volunteers who helped with the catering too. Thank you so much.
The street in front of the stall was at times full of people and it reminded me in a small way of the atmosphere and how full the village was when we held Newton Feast. At the close of the plant stall, when we were tired out, it was a huge relief to see people appear and help dismantle and return items to their homes. You will have noticed that we also set up the trolley outside the church where we have since sold plants, being careful to empty the cash box on a daily basis. The takings each day have varied tremendously, having a couple of zero days to £27 … no day is the same. Since this time the trolley has taken an additional £400+. The Quiz was successful too and small amounts of money are yet to come in, but it has currently raised over £220, so could get to £250. In all an optimistic £1850, with minor expenses to come off that.
The plant stall subcommittee have decided that we will continue with the trolley at times throughout the year. Currently we have few flowering plants to put out, so the trolley will be dismantled but it will reappear from time to time when we have goods to sell, particularly in the autumn when we may be dividing plants, so any surplus, please pass our way. We plan to repeat the event next year and if all goes to plan, will start earlier with the trolley with spring plants and hold the stall again on the same weekend, i.e. the weekend before the last bank holiday of May which seemed to work well for us. So, reserve the date – I think that will be Sunday, 19 May 2024.
For this month, 6 July at 7 pm we have Cathy Grant speaking to us about the Richard Shephard Musical Foundation – a trust recently established that is taking music into infant/junior schools, reviving what has been lost from the curriculum. It will be a most interesting meeting and you will be astonished to hear how far and what impact, in such a short space of time, this Foundation has made. Following this, our next evening meeting is not until October, when Jan Jauncey whom many of you know, will be with us.
Also, in July we have the Quilt & Needlecraft exhibition, Saturday and Sunday 15 & 16 July. There will be many quilts and a huge variety of needlecraft. We have some astonishing work, York Minster are loaning us the sample work that their broderers produce to show they are up to the standard required to work on their vestments; some of these broderers are also loaning us their private work which is awe inspiring. We have also been fortunate in that the Fulford Tapestry is being displayed, I understand depicting a battle from a time that precedes the Bayeaux Tapestry – fortunately it is coming with a gentleman who will be available over the two days to explain it. Beningbrough Hall are again providing a voucher for free entry for the following week that will be given to each person attending the exhibition. They have been so generous in supporting our events and we are extremely grateful to them. As well as refreshments in the Parish Hall we have stall holders selling needlecraft related items and also in the back room a series of demonstrations or practical sessions for children and adults covering various craft topics from quilting, printing, spinning, rag rug making, sewing, all free of charge. Over both days we will be running a raffle and two quilts have been generously donated as the main prize for each day. The raffle prizes will be displayed in the church and tickets sold both in the Church and the Parish Hall. Additional prizes will be gratefully received.
Could I ask for volunteers please to help at this event? We will be setting up during the preceding week and having never undertaken such an event there will be a lot of huffing and puffing to get the display shown in the most effective manner … there is bunting to put up linking the church to the parish hall … again we thought a mid-week start for that … and any biscuits, scones or cakes for the refreshments in the Parish Hall, as well as helpers over the two days … any help you can offer will be so appreciated. Of course, we need people to attend, so please tell your friends, put it on your Facebook or whatever media you use to try and help us. I will attach the advert we produced that you may be able to upload.
And, if you are not now exhausted, we also have, organized by Stephanie Howe, a Summer Concert on Saturday, 8th July in Linton Village Hall, £10/ticket where Chris Lloyd and Kirsty Hughes will entertain us with some jazz and songs from the shows. 7pm start.
I am working on the 2024 lecture programme – should you know of an interesting speaker whom you think will be appropriate, please let me know.
Thank you for your generous support, it is so much appreciated.
Marion Blacker
Friends of All Saints Church Committee
Marion Blacker, Stephanie Howe & Sheila Ritchie
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Email: friends@allsaintsnewton.org.uk