Bloxham Village Community News Item

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The Friends of St Mary's

The Friends of St. Mary’s Festival 2006

Our first ‘Festival’ can be judged to have been a success.  Financially it has raised significant funds for the restoration of a umber of the windows in the Church.  Quite apart from the financial aspect, it has also brought together a large number of people with a wide diversity of talents.  This in itself has made the whole thing worthwhile.

The three schools in the village took part.  Pupils from the Primary School and Bloxham School have a truly marvellous performance of John Rutter’s Mass for the Children.  All three schools submitted paintings for the Exhibition.  These together with paintings by members of the Art Class proved that it is never too soon or too late to start!

A Dinner at Bloxham School was greatly enjoyed by all and the Rev. Stephen Ware proved to be a highly entertaining after dinner speaker.

The final musical event was a concert featuring all three organs in the church.  This was very well attended and greatly appreciated for the choice of the pieces featured and the variance of the instruments. Sadly, the blower on the old pipe organ gave up the ghost during the playing of Back’s Toccata and Fugue, when all three organs were playing simultaneously!  The audience, however, took it in good part! 

Special thanks must go to Joan Lawrence whose unique knowledge o fhow to set up an exhibition was invaluable:  to Ian Myson who put the programme together and to Sue Mayes, who with her I.T.skills, printed all schedules, catalogues and signs. 

Thanks to Christopher Fletcher Campbell and Stephen Taylor for their musical contribution and to Chris’s sister who was brought in at the last minute to help out.  There were so may others who helped by acting as stewards or selling merchandise and to those who supported us by their presence at the various events.  To them also I give heartfelt thanks.

Hugh Hinde, Chairman, The Friends of St Mary’s

You can be part of ensuring that St Mary’s Church will always be the landmark of our village.

For the price of little more than a pint of beer and a little less than a couple of glasses of wine each month, you can have the opportunity to win generous monthly cash prizes, and to take part in an annual draw for prizes of £500, £300 and £100. And ….you will know that the profits raised will be used to provide an ongoing core fund for the preservation of the church building. With 200 members, the Club will raise more than £8000 every year.

Be one of the 200!!

Look out for the Friends of St Mary’s 200 Club leaflets, or contact the Club Secretary, Sue Mayes (tel. 01295 720432); email mayes@nuttreehouse.fsnet.co.uk

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