** WWI **

VIEW PLANS AND PROJECTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COMMEMORATING
WORLD WAR 1

STANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD

DUNSTABLE Town Council in Bedfordshire celebrated after winning the Small Event of the Year category at the 15th annual National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) Awards on 22 November. It took the prize for an event it organised in May 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, entitled “Dunstable’s Journey through the Great War and Beyond”. The industry event, which recognises the best outdoor events staged across the UK, was held at the Pump Rooms in Bath and included a gala dinner.

JOINT EFFORT TO FUND DEFIBRILLATORS

NEWTON POPPLEFORD AND HARPFORD Parish Council, in collaboration with five other parishes – Clyst St. Mary, Combpyne Rousdon, Dunkeswell, East Budleigh and Woodbury – has led a project to install nine defibrillators across the district. This was enabled by a grant from the Parishes Together Fund, administered jointly by Devon County Council and East Devon District Council. With support from the South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST), the defibrillators have been installed at key locations and a series of training events has been held for residents.

Cllr Geoff Jung, district councillor for Raleigh ward, with one of the new defibrillators outside the village shop in Clyst St Mary

STARRING ROLE FOR ROADSIDE SCULPTURE

A full-size wire sculpture of an elephant has been installed on a roundabout in KIDLINGTON, Oxfordshire, as a joint commission by Kidlington Parish Council and Cherwell District Council (CDC). Rosie the elephant was created by Brighton-based artist Tony Davies and commemorates a favourite attraction at Oxford Zoo, which stood on a site nearby in the 1930s. The installation weighs around a tonne and stands over nine feet tall. The sculptures have been paid for from funds reserved for public art and originating from developers’ donations.

COUNCILS ADD SPARKLE TO
THE FESTIVE SEASON

CARMARTHEN Town Council held its annual Christmas lights switch-on and Reindeer Parade on 24 November, and for the frst time staged a Winter Wonderland at Carmarthen Park. The town clerk, Alun Harries, said: “I spoke to very many people who had travelled a long way for this weekend’s events and there is no doubt that Carmarthen is developing a great reputation across West Wales for its Christmas lights switch-on and associated events.

The winner of RINGWOOD Town Council’s Christmas window display competition was Martin & Co. Estate & Letting Agents, which created an eye-catching display depicting a village winter wonderland. The contest was judged by Cllr Tony Ring, mayor of the Hampshire town, who presented the winning business with a trophy.

ACCOLADE FOR PARISH CEMETERY

WILLINGDON AND JEVINGTON Parish Council in East Sussex has been celebrating after Willingdon Cemetery won a Silver prize in the Small Cemetery category at the national Cemetery of the Year Awards. The award scheme is run by the Memorial Awareness Board and the 2018 awards were presented at the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management Learning Convention and Exhibition in early November. The awards demonstrate the central role that cemeteries and churchyards can play in the community.

Council chairman Cllr John Pritchett BEM, cemetery manager Nicola Williamson and cemetery chairman Martin Cooper celebrate

WWI CENTENARY

The parish of SCRIVEN in North Yorkshire always holds a Remembrance Day service at its village green and war memorial. The 2018 gathering included retired servicemen, cadets, parish and county councillors and parishioners and, for the first time, Marika, a 27-year-old pony who grazes on Scriven Green. According to Cllr Ivor Fox, chair of the parish council, residents thought it was very poignant to have a horse present at the service given the importance of horses and their contribution to WWI.

 To see more events from around the country click here or on the WWI image above.

THANKFUL VILLAGE SIGN

SCRUTON Parish Council in North Yorkshire commissioned a new village sign to mark the centenary and the village’s designation as a Thankful Village – one where all those who left to fight survived the conflict. For the Remembrance weekend the sign and its plinth were decorated with poppies by Marion Largent, accompanied by parish council chair Cllr Janet Crampton, Cllr Tony Wood and Cllr Annabel Wilkinson of North Yorkshire County Council. A second sign will be commissioned at the north end of the village to complete the project.

SUCCESS FOR IN BLOOM CAMPAIGN

MORPETH bagged Gold and Best Town awards in this year’s Northumbria in Bloom competition, followed by a Gold in the national Britain in Bloom competition. The mayor, Cllr Jack Gebhard, collected the award at the ceremony in Belfast on 19 October. The RHS judges praised individual displays around the town and concluded: “Northumbria clearly has a jewel in the crown with Morpeth. Here the whole community contributes to create a wonderful experience for both residents and visitors.”

TEA BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

Cllr Philip Edge, chairman of HARLING Parish Council in Norfolk, and his wife Jane enjoyed a champagne tea with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Spencer House in London on 14 November. The event was held to mark Prince Charles’ 70th birthday, and 70 people reaching the same milestone this year were invited in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their communities. Cllr Edge, who has been a councillor for 32 years and chairman for more than 25, was nominated by the parish clerk, Kate Filby.