I attended as many events as possible over our designated ten days of festival and had some very positive experiences – however there were many other events and we would really like to hear about how they went. So if you organised an event or attended one please drop us a note about your experience which will help us to move the whole thing forward for next year.
You can email me at: [email protected]
It is always sad when we run down the festival but we had a brilliant programme and record numbers on things like the Garage Sale Trail and the STMA Family Fun Day – also a great success with the new Craft Fair – will we see a Christmas Craft Fair as many people requested?
So looking at the Sunday events I am drawn to the Greenline Medical Demonstrations and the Bowls club finals. Personally, I will make a point of visiting the Art Exhibition and then teaching the Tai Chi class in the evening for a gentle end to the week.
Last night I attended the talk by Tony Dawson – sponsored by the Ivel Rotary Club – on the theme of Shefford’s welcome to refugees from 1939 to the present day. We first had a welcome from Our Mayor Ken Pollard who explained that the evening was to celebrate Shefford’s support for the kinderstransport from continental Europe in 1939 and to welcome present day refugees from Afghanistan. This was followed by an illustrated talk by Tony Dawson of the Shefford History Group which led us through the arrival and welcome experience from the perspective of refugees and hosts.
Saturday at the Community Festival sees Greenline Medical Services doing demonstrations at their forecourt on Clifton Road – look out for the ambulances! 
I will also be in action myself from 9.30 to give a free Tai Chi class on Digswell Field adjacent to the STMA – meanwhile the Bowls club will be holding their yearly finals and the four churches in town will run their Church Trail for people to discover their differences and similarities.
My particular favorite event is the Shefford Art Exhibition at the Community Hall which we attend every year and where we have in the past purchased occasional pictures – so thank you to our local artists for the opportunity to see your work.
We are sorry to say that the organisers will not be able to bring Eat feast to Shefford on Saturday. They had traders booked who have all pulled out and despite efforts to find others, nobody is available at this late stage.
The organiser explained: “We are very sorry as we were looking forward to it but the circumstances are beyond our control.”
So maybe we will see them another month.
We are looking forward to some more Theatre Fun on Thursday from 4.00 – 5.00pm for 4-5 year olds and then on Friday from 4.00 to 7.00pm for 6-16 year olds with Madhatters run by Hollie Milburn – a great chance to experience the world of Dance, Acting and Singing – become a Tripple Threat in musical theatre. Sessions are free so what’s to lose – we hope people go and have fun with friends!
Shefford welcomes refugees – a talk by Tony Dawson at St Michaels Church Shefford together with Rotary and Central Beds Council representatives, at 7.30pm
With tremendous numbers of stalls and scarecrows it was quite a days outing if you wanted to get round them all – I walked much of the town to get the following pictures and certainly met one guy who was cycling round every one! I also saw many families who were exploring Shefford together. Many cupcakes were claimed and the feedback was lovely – we are glad that it gave that much pleasure to the children who persuaded mums and dad
s to take them to R
ose’s.
Update to times for the Art Exhibition on Sat 24 and Sunday 25 – we are advised this will be 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
Today Rose’s were giving away 100 gorgeous cupcakes, I was having tea and biscuits at the church while other people were “hanging around” doing street calisthenics at Millenium Green and even more were having a family fun day at the STMA – such a success that it overran out onto the field!
