Mayor’s Blog 157
6 September – The Children’s Democratic Republic of Bridport
A great big THANK YOU to the organisers!
Well this was just ‘something else’! Brought together by The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares – being invited to open this unusual and quite breath-taking event was something no-one could ever have imagined. Very ‘Bridport’!
Children of mixed ages took part throughout the school holidays to imagine, create and demonstrate what young creative minds can achieve. The freedom given to the children on this project was incredible. Their response equally so.
We were invited to complete a quiz, gleaning answers from around the display. This was marked and if all answers were correct we swore an oath to keep the republic’s rules. This done, we were photographed and issued with a passport in which The Minister of Official Documents and Declarations says:
“We have made a brand new country to find a better way of doing things. A better way of doing school, a better way to get around, a better way of living.”
There were so many people applying for their passports on the night, I had to wait until the following day to get mine – and that was Hat Festival day – hence my silly hat! Kind of goes with the flow though!
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Just about to cut the ribbon for the opening. Passport pic!
7th September – Hat Festival
This was as spectacular as ever. It is easily one of my favourite days in Bridport – so inclusive, such fun and all for a good cause. A day where the whole community, residents and visitors alike are chatting and laughing together and the town just buzzes with activity and sheer joy. The effort so many people of all ages put into their amazing creations and outfits never fails to astonish.
After a wonderful and entertaining ‘cry’ from John Collingwood – our fab Town Crier, I was invited to welcome everyone and then later to present the prizes to the winning hat-wearers of various ‘classes’. I was NOT judging so no bias could occur – but I was pleased that the Bark family (minus Ian who was unfortunately unwell) won the 1st prize for the best Group. Their family (adults and children) each wore a tall modelled tree on their heads – whether this was their own Colmer’s Hill, or a tribute to the Community Orchard, or of course a nod to their surname, I’m not sure, but it was deservedly chosen imo. Another spectacular ‘hat’ which I must mention was a scale model of our Town Hall, which has been donated by its creator to the Town Council – on show in the TIC.
The day was full of music, in Bucky Doo and on the Millennium Green, and special mention should go to the young people performing in ‘Pop Club’ who entertained the crowds so well. Huge thanks to the Hat Festival Committee for all the work they put into this wonderful day.
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| Dave’s hat was procured from the Hat Auction – a knitted Christmas pudding, which we put over a top hat – thereby being close to the title of an old song by Fred Astaire (those old enough to remember will know!) “Puddin’ on my Top Hat”! Mine was a bee-friendly hat to go with our Bee-friendly status. I might borrow that for the Christmas Cheer evening in December! |
Same day (afternoon) Bridport Gardening Club Presentations
I was invited to present the awards to the many winners who had submitted their entries – there were tables upon tables of different classes – all things that will grow and beautiful displays of flowers and children’s entries too. I do declare our MP, Edward Morello’s young son won in his class – a painted stone decorated as a globe – he even pointed out where we lived on it! Bless him.
It should not be forgotten just how much work goes into a show like this – first the growing and nurturing of the fine produce and plants/flowers shown, organising and setting up the displays of entries and of course the taking it all down afterwards. Well done to all.
11th September – Bridport’s Civic Day – I was one proud Mayor!
Oh we got lucky here – the sun shone all day! My theme for the day was to show our invited guests organisations we had managed to save and support when outside funding was cut and also schemes and we’d helped to fund for the benefit of the town and its community and visitors.
We welcomed many Mayors and their Escorts to our town, meeting in the Football Ground Car Park and first bussing them down to West Bay for a presentation on the beach wheelchair provision and beach matting, moving on for a presentation and visit to the Discovery Centre, which we helped to set up and will shortly take on. From there we went to see the amazing ‘Changing Places’ disabled toilets by West Bay Road car park.
We then took them back to the centre of Bridport showing our bustling Wednesday market in full flow, and on to our Tourist Information Centre, again explaining how we’d kept it after funding had ceased and explaining how successful it has been. Then up to the Town Hall where Will (Town Clerk – for anyone reading this who doesn’t know!) put on one of his excellent visual presentations which impressed the guests to show more of what Bridport has been doing, and a wonderful lunch followed, prepared and supplied by Soulshine.
After lunch we moved on to the Museum for a rope-making demonstration and a quick mooch around, and then finally on to the Bridport Youth and Community Centre, which again we decided to keep and help to fund after funding ceased a few years ago. We had a lovely presentation of what they get up to, (lots!) and then finally three presentations from my three charities – BYCC, ReadEasy and HomeStart. Refreshments too!
We took a walk back to the car park, pausing at the Community Orchard on the way
What a day! Our visitors were very impressed (they are still telling me how much) and I owe enormous thanks to our Mayor’s secretaries, esp Jill for doing the organising of the day and the food, getting the timings right, and Grace for all her support, and of course Will, Daryl and Terri for generously giving their time on the day to inform our guests. It was good to have them around – I am so grateful to all of them – I know how busy they are.
12th September – Chickerell Civic Day
Hot on the tails of the busy day before, we set off for Chickerell’s Civic Day. We were taken to Wyke Regis Army Training and enjoyed an interesting talk and then a fascinating display out on the Fleet watching their amazing rescue boat which can float on very shallow water, (less than a foot!), literally turn on a sixpence and stop in half its (short) length when travelling at 40mph.
After a very good lunch we were taken to the beautiful Bennett’s Water Gardens, and enjoyed afternoon tea there before returning home.
A very pleasant day.
13-16th September – St Vaast La Hougue, Brittany
This was a wonderful trip. This year we were celebrating 45 years of our towns’ ‘Jumelage’. As Mayor it is customary to present their Mayor with a gift. I designed a framed plaque to state the celebration – beautifully reproduced by Jason at Footeprints. Well done Jason! Their Mayor kindly gave Bridport a beautiful picture of their old chapel – the history of which was explained to us on a tour of the town – a treat in itself.
Our two towns alternate our visits and this year was our turn to go to St Vaast. Most of us are reciprocating hosts and have got to know our ‘partners’ well. It’s a long and busy weekend but always an absolute pleasure to either be there or to welcome them here.
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| St Vaast La Hougue, Brittany |
Our visit was jam-packed with eating, drinking and outings – St Vaast is such a pretty place with a wonderful French market we always peruse on the first morning there. It is worth noting that where many twinning groups around the country are dwindling in numbers, over the past year we have actually doubled our membership, which is just great – largely due to our organisational team!
18th September – Christchurch Civic Day
We met at their Red House Museum, the building used to be a workhouse and has been retained as it was originally built. The museum artefacts are fascinating to see, and I’d like to return to have the chance to get a longer look one day. One got a good idea of what life was like in a workhouse – very harsh! What is now a restful garden would have been a vegetable plot for the inmates to look after.
Our next stop was the Regent Centre (ex cinema), a little like our Electric Palace – beautifully refurbished and brought up to date, and doing very well. Well worth a visit.
After that a tour of Christchurch Priory – which is huge – and has an interesting history.
19th September – Wareham Civic Day
The first showcased establishment in Wareham was the Westminster Wire Factory. Originally making display racks for anything you can imagine, they have successfully adjusted to challenging and changing situations over the years and are still going! The technology involved is way past my understanding though! Good to know though, that they waste nothing! Next we had a conducted tour of Wareham’s Saxon Walls, with all the history. After that a tour of their old cinema, The Rex. Great place with a full set of listings..get yourself down there.
25th September – Colfox Academy Open Day
I wasn’t invited as Mayor – I just wanted to have a look around. My only local grandson has just started in Yr 7, so I was especially interested in having a tour to get a feel of where he would be, so when I saw they were hosting an Open Day, I contacted the Headmaster to ask whether I could come along as Mayor to get a feel for how things were running these days, since it had been such a long time since I’d visited. I mentioned our connection with Rights Respecting and reminded him that it had been Colfox students who had got us going on it. He was very keen to meet me separately too.
I was very impressed – the ‘feel’ of the school is caring and forward-looking, with much thought having been put into the students’ experiences all round. I was happy to see they have a ‘hub’ where students can take any worries or problems and get help with sorting them out. I particularly liked that.
