What a busy week it has been so far – so many people have been telling me that the festival has been a real success – it is great that even outsiders are hearing what a lovely place Shefford is to live. We have seen two groups of walkers so far with people coming from Royston and St Albans and another group due on Thursday. Classes are popular with new people joining at the Majorettes and the Shefford in the Past film show a great success.
So on Wednesday I visited the NEED Project at the Methodist Church Hall with free food on offer from a “best before ” supply chain – centrally purchased and donated – alongside was a warm space group enjoying company with soup and a roll, and tea and biscuits. There were various classes through the day including Pilates, Children’s Yoga and Line Dancing.
Later I was able to get along to the Shefford Community Choir also at the Methodist Church Hall which was brilliantly attended with people moving and singing – really enjoying themselves.
The Ramble today started outside Lemon Plaice fish and chip shop with the group walking up Ampthill Road to Chicksands then right through the woods and back into town via the farm with a well earned cup of tea back in town. One couple told me they walked in from Clifton.
The Greenspace Conservation Group were hard at work in Bellcote Meadow with a volunteer work party who were keeping a footpath clear by hand trimming a long hedge before contractors come in with machinery.
I then returned to town and visited the Community Cafe at St Michaels church
Further up town at the Community Hall the Art Society were enjoying a creative session ahead of their annual exhibition at the weekend. I certainly look forward to my regular visit.
In the evening the athletes of Black Ice Academy Cheer were working on their tumbling and balancing in the Lower School hall and looking forward to their session on Saturday.
Down at the STMA the Shefford Majorettes were getting organised and described the evening :
“Shefford Majorettes held a taster session as part of Shefford Community Festival this Tuesday and welcomed 5 new girls to try out baton and ribbon twirling and Pom Pom skills. The session began with a showcase of this year’s summer routines followed by some ice breaker games including our girls’ favourite ‘Pom’ game! We ended the session with our existing girls teaching our taster girls some skills in small groups. Shefford Majorettes will be welcoming new starters throughout September so if you missed this taster session then get in touch and get booked in for another opportunity to try out Majorettes!
We’re excited to start a new term and welcome some new faces to the Majorette Family, so if you’re interested in joining our troupe, drop us an email at [email protected]”
From there I visited the Community Hall where the WI were being entertained by a talk on Bess of Hardwick – in her day the richest woman in the country. Followed by a presentation of Plastic Free Shefford by Nicola Burr.
Honestly, Mondays are a full day for me – the morning teaching Tai Chi in Marston Moretaine and again here in Shefford Community Hall for the afternoon – in between I was pleased to check in at the Shared Space at the Baptist Church Hall. Apologies to those I could not get to, including Campton Dance at the Methodist Church Hall – also the Karate in the Methodist Hall and the Kick Boxing at the Community Hall – plus the Players at STMA, Karaoke, Shefford Runners and Pilates at the Methodist Hall.
It certainly shows how important our local venues are to the regular activities of the town. Tomorrow looks like it will be another very active day.
During the first weekend of the Community Festival, we have two big events going on. Now in its 6th year, the popular Scarecrow Festival takes place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September between 10am and 6pm and we can’t wait to see the amazing creations the community comes up with this year. Free trail sheets are available from Country Properties, but if you prefer to view it online you can Download the trail sheet here.
On Sunday 14th September the 2025 Garage Sale Trail will be on between 11am and 3pm, raising funds for the Shefford Christmas Lights. The Garage Sale Trail has been part of the festival since it started in 2018. Again, free trail sheets are available from Country Properties, but if you prefer to view it online you can and you can Download the trail sheet here.
Shefford Community Festival would like to thank Country Properties Shefford for their sponsorship and support of these two events.
The first weekend of our 2025 Community Festival got us off with a day that kept everyone busy – especially me chasing photographs! Sunday started for me with a walk – actually not so much me but the Stag Walkers group who met in the Town Meadow car park around 10.00 where some 14 or so active walkers headed out for Stamford and Summerhill by way of the Navigation river section, They stopped by our village sign for a photo op.
We had a major break in the weather just in time for the opening ceremony which was attended by our present mayor, with our previous mayor and our MP together with Shefford’s own “Belle” – who jointly orchestrated themselves to cut our ribbon and send off the 2025 Festival for the next week.
