Saints Alive 2010 Flower Festival
Saint’s Alive Flower Festival Fund raising for the Hub @ St John’s Project got off to a colourful start with the Saint’s Alive Flower Festival. The Bishop of Knaresborough, James Bell, launched the £300,000 fund raising project at the Festival preview evening on Friday 18th June. Also attending the launch were Andrew Jones MP; Councillor Jo Walton and Councillor Christine Willoughby, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Knaresborough and Councillor Dr Keith and Mrs Pam Rothwell, Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate. The evening was a tremendous success with wonderful flower arrangements, good food and background music provided by the Choir of St John’s and Voix Celeste. The Flower Festival was open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Despite the chilly weather on Saturday the Festival was well attended. Visitors were treated to the magnificent flowers together with a recital of organ music provided by Chris Metcalfe and in the afternoon a varied programme of piano music and singing from Joe Beighton and Sian Whitby. In the Church Hall refreshments were served on the terrace with its magnificent views over the River Nidd. Also available to the visitors were a huge selection of home-made cakes provided by members of Mothers’ Union and of the congregation. Other stalls included high quality jewellery, handbags, greetings cards, children’s clothes and fair trade goods. A special service was held in the Church on Sunday morning. The better weather and other events in Knaresborough saw the town busy with visitors many of whom took the time to view the flowers and enjoy the refreshments. The Saint’s Alive Flower Festival was rounded off in the evening by a concert given by St John’s Choir and friends, the school choir from St John’s Knaresborough, Church of England Primary School and Voix Celeste. There was also a guest appearance by Horlix the Bear who entertained the audience with jokes and songs and then joined the choir for their finale. Throughout Horlix was ably assisted by his straight man Darryl. The concert was a triumph and provided a fitting end to a great weekend. Events of this nature do not organise themselves and thanks must go to the talented ladies of the St John’s Flower Guild and others lead by Margaret Milner. Peter Kearney created the fantastic artwork for the Saint’s Alive and the original was framed and was won by Miranda Armitage in a raffle. Knaresborough traders also supported the event and thanks to Floral Décor, Flying Colours, The Knaresborough Bookshop, the Knaresborough Post and Horner’s Stationery for their help. The Flower Festival was the first of a number of fund raising events in support of the Hub @ St John’s Project. The event raised over £1800 towards the Project and the Development Team are very grateful for the support the we have been given. Details of events and progress will be published on this web site, Accord and in the Knaresborough Post.
Click here to see the photographs from this event:
Ian Davies (Fund Raising Manger) |