Category: Community Event

So the dust has settled and Summer already feels like a distant memory. How lucky were we with the weather on 25^th September?

It was fantastic to see so many local people out and about to enjoy Music, Art & Food on the Water and it has been heart-warming to see and hear so many positive comments about the event. The majority have commented on a great atmosphere and how good it was to see the community so well represented.

Sadly, we were not able to satisfy those who had perhaps grander expectations than those we set out with! We were definitely not seeking to lay on a “Festival” in the heart of the village.

The intention was to have a number of dispersed, coordinated and themed activities around the village so there might be something for almost everyone to enjoy. But sufficiently low-key so as not to be too obviously attractive to visitors. This one was for us!

The scene-stealing moment had to be the performance of the youngsters from the Primary School and a big shout out to Tori Teague and her colleagues for organising this and the fabulous display of children’s artwork.

The support and encouragement of both School Heads, John Jones and Will Morgan, and the Parish Council from the outset was instrumental in making this event the success that it was.

So too was the participation of the many community and volunteer groups and we recognise that sadly some were not able to make it because they were unable to staff their stands and others would have loved to participate. (Next time hopefully we’ll get everyone together!)

Of course, none of it what have been possible without financial support to cover hire of the Victoria Hall, road closure, First Aid provision, public liability insurance, leaflet printing and distribution to local residents by Royal Mail and various other logistical bits and bobs that was generously contributed.

So, thank you to:

• Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council
• Cotswold District Council
• Gloucestershire County Council
• Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School
• Bourton-on-the-Water Visitor Information Centre
• Bourton Browser (for a full page to promote the event to residents)
• Super Lemon Ltd (Tony and Ian for super reasonable rates in printing of our flyers)
• Cotswolds Radio (for covering the event and broadcasting to the community including interviewing by County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson)
• Everyone who made Bourton’s Got Talent possible especially those that got on stage and performed! (Especially the Panto Group for making the stage so lovely.
• The Street Food vendors, especially Smiths of Bourton and Aroma who participated whilst their businesses were also open. Given the staffing challenges the hospitality sector is experiencing, it was wonderful that you were able to make it. Sadly, others who had hoped to be there had to drop out.
• All the musical acts that participated outside the Victoria Hall and in local venues and those venues too!
• Kathleen Cronin for looking after the Art displays
• Leanne and Justin Launchbury, Martin and Helen Macklin for their support in marshalling the road closure
• Pulhams Coaches, Hacklings Storage and Distribution, The Old New Inn, Cotswolds Ice Cream and The Lansdowne B&B for their financial support.

I’d like to acknowledge the super efforts of a core organising team of Carol Groom, Lynda Hicks, Allan Hymers, Jill Hymers, Andrew Lund-Yates and Diana Ray, with inputs from Jessica Smith, Martin Macklin, Clare and Graham Keyte, without whom it would not have been possible to pull this together in a two month time-frame. You were awesome!

Finally, many thanks to all of you who came out to enjoy your village on a sunny late September evening!

On Thursday 23rd at 17:00 you can hear more about Music, Art & Food on the Water and Bourton Business Network when yours truly will be interviewed by Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Gloucestershire County Council) on his 16:00 Cotswolds Radio show.

Do tune in if you can via the Cotswolds Radio website or the Cotswolds Radio app.

When we started discussing the possibility of Music, Art & Food on the Water, on July 13^th, the day after the Government made its decision on moving to Step 4 on the “roadmap to freedom” on July 19th (so-called “Freedom Day”), we were unanimous in our desire for business to support our local community by organising activity that would bring our community together after a really tough 18 months, celebrate the amazing work of voluntary and community groups during the pandemic (and encourage more volunteering!) and to show that there is a demand for activity in the evenings by local residents.

Now we are just 3 days away from what we planned as a set of dispersed activities, with a common theme, located around the village – mindful of the continuing presence of COVID-19.

Evening Events and Activities

So, what is happening?

Everything kicks off at 17:00 with local voluntary and community groups including representation from the Councils, on the Village Green. So please come along and show your appreciation for the things they do to keep our community going!

At the same time the first of our music acts will be performing just across the river outside the Victoria Hall, the first of a set of acoustic acts, one of which will also feature schoolchildren from the Primary School, lasting to around 19:00.

Also you should smell some delicious fragrant foods from our “Street Food” vendors located beside the Victoria Hall (near the entrance). The Old New Inn will be offering steak or portobello mushroom baguettes, Smiths will have burgers and Aroma a very special surprise. Bourton’s very own Mr Ice Cream will also be on hand with something for dessert. Expect fire and ice!

Inside the Victoria Hall, on the ground floor between 17:00 and 19:00, there will be a display of art featuring pictures from local schoolchildren and a number of local artists.

And at 19:00 it’s the moment of truth for some budding performers in Bourton’s Got Talent! By the way, there’s still time to sign up to perform! (Contact talent@bourtonbusiness.net)

And don’t forget you can check out Bourton’s Got Talent on Cotswolds Radio the following day, in case you can’t make it.

Music and Food around the Village

Around the village, a number of pubs and eateries are laying on music for your delectation. So, check them out and book a table. Paige and the Red Shift at The Wellie, Luke Lester Powell playing some chilled acoustic with some classics at The Mousetrap, there’s Greek music to go with pizza at the Bakery on the Water. The Chestnut Tree, The Croft and The Manse are also confirmed in putting on some music. (All these details subject to last minute changes no doubt!!)

It has been really challenging to orchestrate even a relatively low-key event for local residents in a two-month timeframe. But we’ve had amazing support from businesses, performers and artists, the Parish, District and County Councils who have all contributed resources (financial and otherwise) to make this happen. And of course, some pretty amazing teamwork by a small bunch of volunteers. (We will acknowledge everyone who has contributed in a future blogpost.)

Equally, it should be noted that the Village continues to experience really challenging times, especially in getting staff, and so we have sadly had some drop-outs of entertainment acts, community groups and local food vendors who are unable to get involved in the way they had wanted. 

There continues to be a lot of people working really hard in our community and under a lot of pressure to do normal everyday activities and we shouldn’t forget this as we try to create a late-summer feel-good moment for everyone to enjoy.

We hope you enjoy the vibe, have fun, meet friends and stay safe of course!

This collection of music, art and food experiences around the village on the evening of September 25th is the first activity being initiated by Bourton Business Network. The intention is to bring our community together as we collectively get on the road to post-pandemic recovery. 

For residents of Bourton and surrounding villages, it is a moment to celebrate village life, thank active local people, find out about future ideas and volunteering opportunities and, most importantly of all, to acknowledge what we’ve all been through and sustain that sense of togetherness that was evident in the first few months of lockdown in 2020.

If, as a local business or resident, you would like to get involved in some way please drop us a line. 

Maybe it’s time to let your special gift shine at Bourton’s Got Talent. Do you just want to thank someone for something they’ve done in the community over the last 18 months? Perhaps you want to finally throw the (cancelled) 2020 Christmas Party for your team – why not book your favourite local eatery on this special evening?

As a business, can you support the event through sponsorship? Perhaps sponsoring a Drumming Workshop for young people? Making a contribution to the cost of the musical acts around the village? Or contributing to a voucher scheme for those in reduced circumstances to ensure that everyone can participate in some way?

Come and meet your local councillors and the community groups who do so much to support our community.

More information will be publicised nearer the date outlining the Music, Art and Food trails round the village. But please put Saturday 25th September, 2021 in your diary now!

The food theme continues over the weekend with the local Farmers Market the next day so please support our local food producers. Drop in to the FREE exhibition Eat from the Landscape at the British Legion Hall alongside the market at GL54 2AR on Sunday September 26th,  9 a.m to 2.30 to find out more about local food and meet some producers.

If you would like to get involved email us at mafow2021@bourtonbusiness.net