As was remarked to me on Sunday “this is one of the few times Shefford comes together” – along with others we would like to see more community events in the centre of town and to an extent we have played a small part in encouraging this to happen. Unfortunately we have a restricted area for these events but from memory I think we now have Remberance Day, Christmas Lights switch on, EatFeast, Festival opening, Friday market, Community Market and the Charter Fair.
It is great that some progress has been made by using Pamoli Square so thanks to Morrisons and the Council for facilitating this.
With the 2024 Festival in our minds we are reflecting on the part played by our sponsors, without whom we could not run the festival, which has in turn sparked so many spin offs in new local activities.
We presently have two types of sponsor – the ones who pay and the ones who contribute a service for free.
The first category includes the following, who not only get to support our community but also receive recognition on our website, our blog and the many leaflets and posters which we circulate throughout the year – plus the exclusive right to use an official sponsor banner/poster in your own publicity material.
If you would like to join this select group please contact me on 07860 218334 or email [email protected]
The second category includes sponsors who facilitate the festival in some way on a pro-bono basis eg by publishing or distributing material – a group which includes the following which are in addition to my own contribution and that of my partner and my sec/admin colleague who originated the Festival and continue to run it on a pro bono basis from our “work from home” marketing company.
That’s right – it’s not too early to plan for September 2025 – in fact it is the ideal time to brain storm for ideas – with Shefford growing fast all the time and so many new families looking for local activities – the Community Festival is the ideal place to look.
The form of the Festival is well established with a High Street opening ceremony followed by nine days of local events and activities all organised by local individuals or organisations – from the Street food and the Market to singing classes and meditation. Our art groups and the amateur radio people gave us some really interesting things to do this year – so what could we look forward to next year?
How about we all give a thought to it now so we can gather support and arrange a venue – would you like to run a book club ( do you already do so?) – what about a quilting circle or a fabric dying group? Would anybody like to invite enthusiasts to their shed for a tea and woodworking session? Is there a car group or bike club that could meet that week – maybe have a festival ride out?
If you have an idea but don’t have a venue please contact me – maybe I can put you in touch with a venue that is looking to run an event? Shefford has a number of community focused indoor spaces and organisations who would love to host a new activity – maybe even for free!
Call me – Ian Deavin on 07860 218334 or email [email protected]
The Shefford Community Festival went really well this year and seems to have found its place in our local calendar – I have already been asked when it will run next year, so after due consultation I have set dates for Friday Sept 12 to Sunday 21st – so the same week as this year. This is not too early to think about what you might do for the festival in 2025 – in fact I have already had a couple of people asking – they left it too late for this year so wanted to get in really early for next!
On Friday the opening ceremony was brilliant – not only did we have two local luminaries cutting the ribbon i.e. our Mayor Ken Pollard with MP Alistair Strathern, others participating included the Shefford Prince and Princess, plus an adult Elsa in fabulous costume and character from her adjacent Be Our Guest Palace. There were sponsors there from Country Properties and BEST Academies, Nicola Burr represented Plastic Free Shefford and Erica Bowler showed up from the Baptist Church. Lesley Whiteman, who runs the monthly Community Market, was active taking photos and representing the Garage Sale Trail, as well as the Shefford Mind Body Spirit and Craft Fair at the STMA.
During the week we had many interesting activities covering:
Community Hall AGM, Community Market, Well-being event at Millenium Green, Messy Harvest, Tai Chi beginners classes, Community café, WI invitational meeting, ALL-ABLE art show, Community Choir, Amateur Radio Society, Promoting the environment meeting, Self Help Art group, EatFeast street food, Mind Body Spirit Craft fair, Art Exhibition, Scarecrow festival, STMA Family Fun Day, Garage Sale Trail.
And lastly – thank you to all our sponsors who enable this event each year.
After a very wet start to the day the rain paused at around 10.00 am so most of us could put out our garage sale gazebos and goods. The scarecrows of course had been out since the day before but seemed to survive the soaking very well.
There were many stalls and scarecrows – with stallholders reporting that they were very busy – as evidenced by the groups of families walking round town. So here is a mix of photos taken at random to give a flavour of a wet Sunday in Shefford!
At 8.30 am on Sunday morning as I write this it has been raining continuously since the hail storm at 2.30 pm yesterday – so 18 hours and still going. The weather forecast shows “thundery showers and a gentle breeze” so we are wondering about getting our gazebo out for the Garage Sale Trail. Our plan is to see if the rain eases off enough to put our gazebo up and take it from there – also perhaps to take a car trip round town to check out what other people have managed to achieve. We could see more of the amazing scarecrows and maybe some people will be sheltered OK – I noticed one open garage being prepared yesterday so all the best to anyone who gets their stall out.
In the meantime those of you that didn’t get to the Art Exhibition at the Community Hall could get a tea/coffee and cake and a look at the local artistic display in the dry and newly refurbished Community Hall.
Good luck to everybody for the rest of today
It is a good job we got to see the Scarecrows yesterday here are the ones I saw.
Saturday arrived with the Art Exhibition at the Community Hall which, as usual, was a fascinating mix of local talents including a cute little duck picture which we purchased. The coffee and cakes were great too!
It was also time for the Scarecrow Festival – which was interrupted by a vigorous hail storm – but we did manage a few photos.
Moving on, the STMA Family Fun day began around 2.00pm with lots of play equipment for the kids in the main hall and outside an inflatable bouncy castle, an ice cream van and an NSPCC gazebo with more games. For adults inside were the bar and food.
Shefford Amateur Radio Society SADARS had an interesting welcome evening with many people at the Community Hall to extend their knowledge of making world wide connections via radio using speech, morse code, digital codes and even TV images.
Elsewhere at the Brewery Tap – Nicola Burr was talking about the environment and how to encourage people to think more and be more active about the planet. The lively group, including MP Alistair Strathern, discussed everything from Plastic Free Shefford to climate change and the place of these issues in todays society.
There is a lot on today to look forward to – from the beginners Line Dancing at the Community Hall to Jo Jingles at the STMA in the morning. Then in the evening a quiet meditation at the Baptist Church otherwise an exerting run or a session of Full bottle Fitness at the STMA.
Nicola Burr will be talking on People, Planet, Pint at the Brewery Tap – which sounds interesting – alternatives being the STMA Crib League or the Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society (SADARS) at the Community Hall.
Checkout the program here
