The Unofficial Video: Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Party

I covered the party in an earlier blog - see here. A video by John Kerry of the day is in production, but I also produced a short film, now on YouTube, to celebrate the day. It contains video clips and photos mostly from other people - most of the pics are by Maggie Booth - the Official Photographer for the event (no relation!). I think photos will be available in the Village Shop very soon if they are not already there. This version is the short version of the film as opposed to a longer film that had more clips and photos. Thanks again to all who made it such a fun day. Click YouTube to open in YouTube then square with arrows in bottom corner to make it large.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Party 2011

Well Friday saw hundreds of us in Whiteshill and Ruscombe join the Village Party on the Playing Fields. This blog has some bits and pieces about the day but I am hoping a YouTube film will be ready later in the week.

Photos: Ruscombe Mens Tug of War team - the winning shield then below the winning team (thanks to Nick and Clair for photo - see link to tug of war youtubes below) and then the programme, then adults fancy dress, Parish Plan, winning childrens picture and some of the amazing cakes.

I was delighted to be able to open the event although not sure the mic was working very well...I know at least a handful of people heard my opening bit....

Anyway you will see my delight in the photo that Ruscombe Mens beat the Whiteshill team in the final play off with each teams best 8...you see it started out with A and B teams and Ruscombe lost both of those in the Mens but won I think it was the B team in the Womens, but not the A....all very competitive and have to note a certain amount of devious play in the first rounds - counting 8 team members seemed impossible and a casual observer would have noted sometimes as many as 11 on the rope - and in  some of the childrens and other matches it was getting close to 20!!

The day had lots going on as the events programme below shows - I will save some of that for the video - but it was a great atmosphere and a real chance to talk to neighbours and meet other residents...and someone who shared reservations before going that they didn't feel comfortable at a Royal Wedding event said after that she thought it was a great community event.

The events programme

1.00pm Commencement of Party & Live Music - then Whiteshill Primary School - Samba Band Parade (from the School to the Playing Field)
2.15pm Opening Ceremony with Philip Booth
Then various activities including:
Children’s Art Competition in the Art Tent
Wellie WangingBoules Competition
Cake Competition Judging: the Great Bake Competition - Portions of the cakes entered for the competition went on sale after the judging of the best cake in each category. Funds raised will go towards future village events. I managed to sample at least there different cakes!!
Fancy Dress Parade for Children (Kings / Queens)
Fancy Dress Parade for Adults (Royalty / Celebrity)
Then the Tug-O’-War - Whiteshill v Ruscombe (Eight participants per team)

The day finished with Raffle and Prize Giving (officiated by Rev. Brian Woollaston)

There was also some wonderful “Live Music” throughout the afternoon plus Children’s Face Painting, the Whiteshill Playgroup Memory Table, details of the new Parish Plan and the Bedazzled Jewellery stall.

Refreshments included: Friends of Whiteshill Primary School - Barbeque & Soft Drinks, Ruscombe & Whiteshill Village Shop - Beverages & Cream Teas and The Star Inn - Refreshments Tent.

Also on the web

YouTubes of the mens tug of war. See here (guy in blue shirt looks particularly strong!) and here. See blog on Transition Stroud asking if Kate is speaking the language of Transition here. See The Ecologist on how to hold an eco-frendly Royal Wedding party here....although I'm not so sure it fits the bill of eco-friendly!

More

If you click on read more you can see the long list of thanks plus some of what I tried to say at the opening of the day.

Bits and Bobs: woodfuel, street parties, allotments, chippings and more

Here is an update on various bits and bobs...

Allotment paths

This Saturday we had an Allotment meeting on site and managed to also do some work - ie extend paths with membrane and chippings. A little more to do. Next step then will be a fence - well posts and wire strung between to grow up brambles and the like! See photos. I was also able to boast about the potatoes I dug up just after New Years day (see here).

Chippings wanted

The Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council Allotments would love anyone who has chippings going free. They have nearly completed paths on the site with a thin layer but need more. Please call 752068 if you can help.

Randwick Woodfuel project

The trial project with the National Trust is finally off the ground and I have set up three dates for work parties to help with conservation work. In return for the work participants will be able to clear some of the cleared wood. All places are full at the moment but if the project works there may well be further spaces. See last blog on this here.

Street parties?

It has been suggested that the Royal Wedding on Friday 29th April might be a good day for a street party. I have mixed feelings about a party on such a day....however the County are giving free road closures - what do others think? A couple of Bread Street residents are thinking about it....

Garden tools offered

There is a very kind offer of some garden tools for anyone locally. Please call me on 755451. I was also wondering if the tool recycling place is still going locally? Do please let me know on 755451 if it is still going?

Coffee House discussion on AV

Should you vote YES for AV? How does the alternative vote work? What's on offer in the referendum? Is AV proportional? Would AV be good for British politics? The next Coffee House discussion, complete with drinks and delicious cakes, is at Star Anise cafe in Stroud, (behind the Old Painswick Inn, Gloucester St.), on Friday, January 28th from 7.30-9.30pm. This builds on a discussion last year re PR - see here a brief guide and some thoughts.

Bread Street Bap Success: Community arts project launched!

OK I've already posted lots of photos and a write up about the Bap on Sunday - see here - but it was also suggested I send something to local press - well I sent the next bit. It seems to be still generating lots of good feelings - many residents have said how much they enjoyed the day.

Photos: from local resident Mike Gallagher and are available to Bread Street residents on request.

Today is Big Lunch day but in Bread Street Ruscombe we had our party yesterday - The Bread Street Bap - a friendly rival to Randwick's Wap! We had it the same weekend as The Big Lunch event and residents of the 34 houses had plenty of food, games, stalls and more.

Music was provided by local residents. First up was world class concertina player Rob Harbron with fiddler Miranda Rutter (see two photos). They were followed by local band Smoothee (see below in gazebo) that by the last numbers had virtually all the adults dancing: the children however were more interested in cycling up and down the closed road and playing football in the street.

Bread Street residents also embarked on a community art project: the creation of Bap Man, named after the street party and made of wire he has been covered in hundreds of bits of material that have been woven or tied into his wire frame. He is sitting on the newly renovated bench that former District Councillor Michael Charley officially reopened by cutting the ribbon. Children and adults all added a bit and he plans to sit there for residents to continue to add to him through the summer.

Philip Booth, the local District councillor and one of the organisers of the party, said: "Nowadays many of us either have such busy lives or we don't get out much at all, so there are few chances to meet neighbours. This is our second street party and it was very wonderful especially the amazing music. There is something special about having an event right outside your house: the street came alive with children cycling and running about."

Philip Booth added: "Certainly street parties are great for bringing together communities. Everyone contributed to make the party a success. We kept it mainly to Bread Street residents as we thought that helps us get to know each other. A few residents met several times in the pub to plan a little. Some visited each house to sort out food contributions, some sorted bunting or bands while others sorted the art project."

Bread Street Bap success

Today is Big Lunch day but in Bread Street Ruscombe we had our party yesterday - The Bread Street Bap - a friendly rival to Randwick's Wap! We had it the same weekend as The Big Lunch event and had live music and more. A wonderful afternoon indeed. The pics here are a random selection from the day starting with our street photo - well folk getting ready for it - hopefully the official one coming to this blog soon!!

This is our second big street party event - the last was 2 years ago - click on the street party label below - the idea being for residents of the 34 houses to get to know each other better - in fact more than 10 houses were away this time - a great great pity but we still had a brilliant day - even the weather stayed dry and fine. I also counted well over 80 people in the end and some also dropped in just for a short time.

The morning started with putting up more bunting, getting the tables up, closing the road just after 12 and dressing my bread for the competition - the pic left is of my naked Bap Man - later on you will see a photo of him in his black cloak, mask and kilt (all bin liners) - sadly he was beaten by a bread pig that came first in the interesting bread competition while my olive and rosemary bread also wasn't a winner even in the best tasting bread. My partner and I also made several salads and humous - even if I say so myself the beetroot one was yum!

The road closure is always interesting as several cars always ignore despite us getting the official paperwork and paying the £40 fee - well actually the Parish Council paid that - in other areas Councils automatically pay for community events - fortunately our Parish has always been supportive. This year we used horse jumps wrapped in lots of colourful ribbons - blooming heavy to carry back after the party - they seemed to have doubled in weight since the morning).

In fact this year once the party got going only the bus came through - well police also turned up and like the last time claim to not have notice of the party despite me emailing them - this time they were in flack jackets and had tasers - apparently a resident in Whiteshill had complained at the noise - the live band played for under 2 hours so I hope folk weren't too upset - I did invite the police to join us for some community policing but they clearly had business to go to and could see no riotous behaviour - we all waved them goodbye.

OK these photos are of the bread competition entries and the first live music - amazing folk duo - Miranda Rutter on fiddle and Rob Harbron on concertina - they were very wonderful indeed - we were very fortunate to have them - Rob is pretty famous in such matters - see my previous blog with links to some of his music. Loved it lots!!!

This next couple of photos is of the reopening of the renovated bench - Guy, Louise and Andy have worked hard on a bench that looked as if it was only fit for firewood - well it now looks fantastic - Michael Charley, former District Councillor for the area cut the ribbon and then was the first to enjoy the seat - well second as Bap Man - not my bread version but a large chicken wire creation....

More of that in a moment but up next was the wonderful, amazing Smoothee - I keep miss-spelling their name and putting an 'ie' on the end - anyhow check them out at their website here. They really are brilliant with covers that got me dancing - and a few others - well more than a few - until the last couple of tracks when we managed to get nearly all the adults up and dancing. Their music just hit the mood right for me.

So this wire Bap Man? Well it was one of those things that came out of our preparation meetings in the pub - a sort of community arts event, experience or something - anyhow virtually all residents participated in creating this fellow - or woman as some thought later - tying on ribbons, bits of dyed cloth and more.

Gradually through the afternoon different people worked on him until he became a most colourful event that will sit in our bench for the summer - some cloth remains for folk to continue working on him!

We also had a wonderful array of food and drinks - loved someones lemon merengue thingeys and some ginger meranegue thingees - can't spell that merangguue word. However I didn't let anyone taste my first attempt at elderflower champagne - a complete disaster! There was also a treasure hunt for the kids, boules for some of us older ones, a photo competition of Bread Street, a large map of the street with photos of every house, a great freecycle stall where folk brought plants and jumble and took something away instead - I got a book and a dahlia that a resident had grown from seed. Oh and it was great to see all the children cycling up and down the closed road - and playing football - well a number of adults joined in that as well!

As the weather was good we had the chance to sit and chat - several said they really enjoyed the day as folk were more relaxed than the first one - I certainly enjoyed myself immenslely - oh dear where is my spell check? Strangely get slightly apprehensive before event - yes I know all the street take responsibility for party but I was one of the loud noisy ones helping to get it going...in fact everyone was great from making teas to getting chairs, making road closure signs, picking up tables, lending hay bails, putting up the bunting etc etc. What a great road to live in!!

One impressive sight I must mention, was Matt, one of the local lads, who climbed up the lamp pole to tie the bunting and helped us remove it at the end of the day - see the pic - he will be our health and safety officer in future!

Anyhow see my letter to press two years ago about why I think street parties are great - go here and what I said to press two years ago here. I certainly think they are great ways to bring communities together - there is a great website www.streetsalive.net that tells you all you'll ever need to know about street parties. Anyway enough about this for now - we have a working party at the allotments so must dash - no doubt more about Bap Man and the party in a blog soon!!!

Bread Street Bap Big Lunch

On the 18th July communities across the UK will be celebrating neighbourliness by eating lunch together, in the middle of their streets, around tower blocks and on patches of common ground.

Photo: Pic of Bread Street and Beer Street - ironically Bread Street was known for its riotous behavor in the past - so much so that others got money together for a church - see history of Bread Street here

In Bread Street Ruscombe we had our first meeting this year in The Vine Tree pub last week to plan our event - The Bread Street Bap - a friendly rival to Randwick's Wap! We are having it the same weekend as The Big Lunch event and have live music and ore planned - I have already submitted the road closure plans - the idea is for residents of the 34 houses to get to know each other better - click "Street party' label below for previous discussions re street parties and scroll down to see photos of 2008 party,

In the Big Lunch last year, over 700,000 people in every kind of community across the UK took part in more than 8,000 lunches. It was the biggest set of street parties since the Golden Jubilee and 80% said they felt closer to their neighbours as a result - how many others are planning events in Stroud area? I would be very happy to help if folk have questions about road closures or whatever - or follow the advice in the street party or Big Lunch links in this blog. I have also written to the local press to see if they will promote teh Big Lunch and get parties across Stroud!

The ‘Big lunch’ aims to help strengthen neighbourhoods and promote social cohesion through meaningful interaction - I think it is a great idea to promote as it fits with my views 'that the world can get better through communities working together, with nature, optimism and common sense, to tackle local issues'.

There is no fixed procedure for temporary road closure orders. The former transport secretary has previously confirmed that local authorities can use their discretion to avoid charges and notices in papers for most small roads, and can use a single order to approve multiple parties on a given day. Locally the District Council charge £40 and the County more for the same job? This seems bizarre but many local Parish Councils are happy to help with the cost of road closures.

The Local Government Association reports that this year "Many local authorities are encouraging community and youth groups, green champions and newly elected officials to organise and support local ‘Big lunch’ parties. Some, including Croydon council, Bristol city council, the Royal borough of Kingston upon Thames and Swansea city council, are already getting behind the initiative by offering to cover the costs of shutting the roads for residents’ events. Southend borough council is supporting the ‘Big lunch’ as part of its community cohesion agenda. The council’s cohesion and events team is offering help and support, providing guidance on how to get organised, as well as ideas for activities. The council is also allocating a small amount of its cohesion budget to cover the cost of road closures and to reimburse event insurance."

For help see www.streetparty.org.uk

Big Lunch in Randwick

I like the idea of the Big Lunch - and great to hear that on Sunday 19th July there will be one in Randwick - gather from 12 noon onwards and share your homegrown/homemade produce - bring own cutlery, plates etc - call Helen Cornish on 759311 for details. I sadly can't make that day but this evening am exploring ideas with some residents for a Bread Street event later in the year.

Photo: Bread Street party last year

Earlier this week - or was it last week I learnt that the Big Lunch is supported by EDF amongst many others - the idea is great - already 6,000 lunches planned and hopes to turn it into an annual event - but disappointing that EDF - a company that is tops for greenwash - has it's name linked to this event - local Ecotricity boss Dale Vince even called for a National Greenwash Day in response to EDF. Anyhow I hope all the events go well....

Community is an essential part of who we are. As social creatures we depend upon community for our spiritual and material well being. Research shows us that our degree of social connection is a crucial factor for our happiness and an important determinant of life chances.

Here is a bit from the LGiU: "But community doesn't only make us feel good; it's also a crucial resource. We live in a world of complex challenges, from climate change to social cohesion, to changing demographics. These challenges can only be met by collaboration, by pooling our creativity and intelligence and responding through collective action. ‘Social capital': the strength and extent of our social ties and our ability to act as a community is the most valuable currency we have. And yet many people feel that there is a crisis of community. Research by the BBC shows that 97% of UK communities have become more fragmented in the last 30 years."

Certainly community is more complex than it once was. Greater freedom of movement and economic independence means that the community we live in is no longer just that of our street, town or village. Communities extend across continents and through cyberspace and we all inhabit multiple communities at once. The Big Lunch is an attempt to re-simplify and re-build community. To go back to basics and get us to sit down and eat together as neighbours and, hopefully, as friends. The impacts of The Big Lunch are immediate: fun, a sense of connection and a spark of community, but if it sows the seed of richer public relationships then its legacy could be much more profound."

"The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time. LGiU will be working with The Big Lunch on research to evaluate some of the social impacts of the project: to assess how effectively it builds connections within the community and provides a platform for ongoing interactions between neighbours."

I meant to also mention The Big Lunch Short Film Competition -0 I came across this when a comment was left on my blog - entries have closed but check out the finalists – the one with the most views on YouTube wins 1k! http://raindance.tv/news/09-07-2009/finalists-announced-big-lunch-short-film-competition

Eat lunch in the street

The Big Lunch - is an idea being promoted by the Eden Project for Sunday 19th July 2009. They are inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street as a simple act of community.

Photo: Bread Street Street party last year

This is a great idea that a resident in Randwick pointed out to me - she is hoping to get a lunch going there - here's more below of what it says in the Big Lunch promotion. I have to say we are v lucky in this area with community events from the Wap, pancake races, the recent art exhibition in Whitesill etc etc - and later today the 'Hands Around the Lake' in Randwick at Court Lodge from 12 (sadly I will miss that) - they need 200 people to link all the way around then songs, words and bring your own picnic.

A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together. The day after the Big Lunch, people will walk down their street and know someone in most windows. However, the legacy of The Big Lunch is much bigger than just the day after... The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time.

Organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy. Available from April, The Big Lunch website and printed Ideas Booklet will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible. You’ll find inspirational ideas and top tips from our ambassadors on the website and you can find others planning a Big Lunch in your street or area by simply entering your post-code on our Big Lunch map.

To find out more visit www.thebiglunch.com or call 020 7636 8152.

We had a great street party in Bread Street, Ruscombe last year - see here. Not sure what plans this year - some noises being made about another - poss a lunch this time? We also had a great couple of days juicing in Humphreys End last year - see here. So if anyone has thoughts I think just go for it - we had a great response to the street party last year - I think 3 houses were away but over 35 homes participated.....so go knock on those doors!

I see others locally are also doing meal shares like Transition Stroud - see here - and in Whiteshill and Ruscombe there is one of those meals where you have a different course in each home...

Slow Sunday: make bread on 27th to save planet

I love this initiative from Resurgence Magazine - some of us here in Bread Street, Ruscombe will definitely be participating in this day....Years ago I was very upset by Sunday trading arriving and even sadder I find myself on occasion shopping on Sundays - the idea of Slow Sundays is very appealing! Indeed I've talked before on this blog about Sundays - see also the campaign page from Keep Sunday Special where you can sign their petition - Read on...

Photo: Some of the breads at the recent Bread Making competition at the Bread Street street party.

Bake Bread – save the planet

On July 27th the first Resurgence Slow Sunday will be launched. Every two months they will nominate one Sunday where they will ask people to take part in simple actions that symbolise a rejection of commercialism, a passion for the planet, a desire for change and a move towards a more sustainable future. There will be a different action each time. Here is what they write:

The idea of a Slow Sunday is to focus on the choices we, as consumers and individuals, make every day of our lives, that can make a difference to the current ecological climate. In our own recent past, Sunday was a day of rest, a day of reflection. Let’s also make it a day where we consume less, reduce our food miles and our carbon footprint. Let’s also make it a day when we engage with our local community. This is where small, simple actions can make a significant difference to our immediate environment and actively address global warming.

So on July 27th 2008, we are asking people to engage in the simple action of baking bread for themselves, their friends and their neighbours. But what’s baking bread got to do with saving the planet?

The Resurgence Slow Sunday is inspired by two of two of the most profound philosophies of our time – Schumacher’s ‘Small is beautiful’ and Gandhi’s ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’. We believe that big change is possible though small, meaningful actions at a local level. It is only by changing our immediate environment that we can pave the way for change on a larger scale. In other words, we can make the world a better place, but it will only happen when large numbers of people join together and practice what they believe in. And, in the same way that Gandhi made spinning an act of defiance against oppressive colonialism, for the first Resurgence Slow Sunday we are asking consumers to make good, healthy home-baked bread a symbol of environmentalism.

Three reasons why baking bread is a seemingly small step, with potentially enormous environmental consequences:

· Only 4% of bread is baked in small, neighbourhood bakeries. And almost 90% of bread is mass-produced in factory conditions. Thirteen big manufacturers control bread market in theUKwhich accounts for £3 billion a year. Nearly ten million loaves of bread are sold in theUKevery day; their daily delivery clocking up an enormous carbon footprint. This is bread is full of enzyme-based ‘processing aids’ that by law don’t have to appear on the label.

· Bread diversity is a symbol of biocultural diversity. Regional varieties represented grain diversity as well as diversity of style. At one time, this bread was available on your doorstep from your local baker.

· Baking bread is an act of meditation. Through this simple action we are able to slow down, pay attention and reconnect with tradition. It is something to share and to celebrate.

We also have the support of Andrew Whitley, founder of The Village Bakery and author of the book Bread Matters – the state of modern bread and a definitive guide to making your own. He has provided some background information for our campaign and a really simple, but delicious recipe for Resurgence Slow Sunday Baps. Go to www.resurgence.org

Street party gets press coverage

The local press has shown lots of interest on the recent street party in Bread Street - see write up previously on this blog here. The SNJ used that blog entry almost in it's entirety - I am almost a journalist? Well except I didn't get paid - and my writing still needs some work on - anyhow Stroud Life took a different approach and sought 350 words on street parties. I enclose those below.

Photos: Tree planting and below thw inning 'Sheep' entry to the Bread Making competition plus some other entries

Margaret Thatcher once declared "There's no such thing as society." We have certainly seen an on-going and continued assault on our local communities: post offices, pubs and village shops close and membership of community groups has declined. Some of us lead such busy lives that we don't really know our neighbours while others rarely see a soul from one week to the next.

But this is not the whole story. Many communities have tried to defend against these changes and the floods last year brought out the best in neighbourhoods who had to face flooding and a prolonged loss of services. There seems to be a silent yearning for something more: a reconnection with our communities.

Earlier this year a few residents in the street where I live, talked about not knowing other neighbours. This rapidly developed into an idea of a street party, not to celebrate anything, but rather just a chance to get to know each other. After some initial caution, the enthusiasm amongst residents for the idea was palpable.

Last week we had the party, and what a great day! The road was officially closed, bunting hung out, two local bands got us dancing after eating food prepared by virtually every one of the 34 houses in the road. We planted a tree on the green, judged the bread making competition, had a treasure trail, made chalk pavement drawings and more. Everyone from the oldest resident to Cas, born in one of the homes in the street 4 days previously, played their part in making it a success.

It was wonderful to see the street alive with children cycling and running about: some children, although living in the same street, were playing together for the first time. One child, eyes all lit up with glee, shouted to me: 'I'm cycling in the road!'

Street parties are not the answer to all the problems we face, but they certainly go a long way in bringing together communities. Apart from being fun they apparently can also help reduce crime and fear of crime, increase house prices and some have led to actions like tackling traffic speeds. Why not see if your neighbours are up for it?

Bread Street street party success

Concern for the moral welfare of the inhabitants of Ruscombe, who "exhibited a very low type and a very degraded state of social and moral life", led to Christian groups setting up a church in Ruscombe in 1802 and Bread Street in 1810 (i). However no such behaviour was evident on Saturday 28th June at the residents first street party.

Photos: All the good photos here are from Bread Street photographer Mike Gallagher with a few others from me!

The road was officially closed, much bunting and flags hung out and all apart from a handful of the residents in the 34 houses were able to join the party along with some ex-residents and a few interlopers from as far afield as less than half a mile down the road in Randwick. Also amongst the party was the youngest resident, Cas (see photo of Cas with mother Sarah Watson), who had been born 4 days previously in one of the homes in the street.

The afternoon kicked off with planting a laburnam tree on the green at Laburnam Crescent by the longest residing Bread Street resident, John Scrivens (see photo), then a photo of all the residents on the green (see earlier blog) and then the judging of the Bread Street Funny Shaped Bread competition by ex-resident Beryl Tagg. Entries included a spider, a snake, a bread Bread Street with bunting, a cat with whiskers, five bunnies and the winning entry of two sheep.

Glastonbury Festival may have a wider range of bands playing the same Saturday, but the Bread Street street party still saw two local bands play the main Gazebo: Dr Foster and the Imposters (top photo) and the well-known Smoothie (middle photo) with old classics, stripped down and occasionally funked up so that residents were dancing the evening away. One 70 plus year old commented that she didn't imagine dancing to such music let alone doing it in the street, while one of the children commented that they didn't know their Mum could dance.

All the residents made food and brought it along to cover several tables. There were also games including Quoits, boules and a treasure hunt which had children racing up and down the road. Many residents also joined in with the chalk pavement drawing.

Anyhow I never quite know what to say to press in these situations, but here is some of it....

Philip Booth, the local District councillor and one of the organisers of the party, said: "We don't have a local shop on this road and many of us leave such busy lives that there are few chances to really meet our neighbours. There is something special about having an event right outside your house: the street came alive with children cycling and running about - some children, although living in the same street, were playing together for the first time. One child, eyes all lit up with glee, shouted to me: 'I'm cycling in the road!' It reminded me of my childhood when we still could play in the road without fear of being run over."

Philip Booth added: "It was a brilliant party. I've had emails and cards saying how much it was enjoyed and how we must do it again. Three guests also said they wanted to do something similar in their streets. Certainly street parties are great for bringing together communities, they apparently also can help cut crime and reduce fear of crime and can even lead to rises in property prices, but best of all it was lots of fun."

Philip Booth said: "Everyone contributed to make the party a success. We deliberately kept it to just Bread Street residents as we thought that would make it easier to get to know each other A few residents met several times in the pub to plan a little. Some visited each house to sort out food contributions, some sorted bunting or bands while others sorted the road closure. One resident even wrote a short history of Bread Street which was made available to all residents and is also now on the Parish website. We would be happy to share our experiences more about how to close roads and more, if people want to organise their own events."

Note:

(i) See "A view of the history of Bread Street" soon to be available on the Parish Council website and made available to all Bread Street residents by Bread Street resident Guy Ellis: www.whiteshillandruscombe.org.uk/Latest_news.htm

Bread Street residents photo

Well coming soon to this blog is news and photos of the great Bread Street street party which was on Saturday - but in the meantime Bread Street photographer Mike Gallagher has put one of the photos on the Parish noticeboard in the street (see photos here).

Mike will do a copy at cost-price £3 - call him on 764319. Not everyone in the photo as we had a few latecomers and a couple of households were away - but great to see. He also has some other excellent shots - again I hope to put some on this blog.