Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th September

Flower Festival

 

Liz and John began to “vision” the Flower Festival in September 2007, and thinking it was a long way off didn’t actually do much until after the Auction of Promises in March 2008

We spent a long time thinking and planning, looking at ideas and systems, and actually began our “Cold calling” on the businesses in the village on the 19th May. We spent on average 2 full days a week on the Festival – in addition to time spent on the other Appeal Activities - the Trust applications, the work to get the Faculty agreed, the scrutiny of plans, the Main Committee work and all the other Fund raising things that have been going on.

 

We have to say that we’ve enjoyed it immensely, though there were times when we felt we’d left it too late and taken on too much. However, we were enormously heartened by the generous and willing support of all the Sponsors who paid for all the flowers and gave so generously too. They seem to have caught the idea exactly – we wanted the Festival to reflect what’s going on in the businesses that make Boston Spa so distinctive, and we think they did exactly that. How many Churches have you been in and seen a concrete mixer, a toilet and a lawnmower – and made to look so decorous – as Fr Peter pointed out in his sermon on the Sunday morning.

 

The list of people to whom thanks are due would be as long as the list of Sponsors, so we can’t  list everyone and everything here. Everything went well, from the Greetings to the cheery “Goodbyes” and the lovely comments as people left. Someone said “it was the talk of the Village” – which is terrific. Special thanks though to the Wetherby News, BBC Leeds and Tempo FM in Wetherby for giving us such good coverage.

 

We should also make special mention of the Scouts and young people from St Mary’s own youth groups and the whole Restaurant Team - where the food flew out faster than a Fast Food Restaurant and the tables were cleared with breath taking speed. Thanks to all of them, we seem to have served double the number of meals that you would expect from the number of tables we had!

 

The cash raised at the end of the day was £4,757.01 (as at 30.09.08) and it keeps edging up as dribs and drabs come in. A lot of that was raised through Donations from Sponsors, many of which we actually received before the event which was so helpful.

The Grand Total of the Appeal was £71,106.96 on 30th September, which means that the actual work on the Organ itself is financially secure, which is splendid.

 

We’re not sure what happens next – the Organ Appeal Committee are taking a well earned breather, and are meeting next on 18th November at 7.30 p.m. to review the year and to make plans for the next few months. We do have a plan for something different on the Village Late Night Shopping evening in December … watch this space (and prepare your letter to Santa in good time).

 

In the New Year final plans will have to be agreed on what actually happens about the Gallery and much will depend on the cash in hand. These are very difficult times for all of us financially – and fundraising for the Organ is affected as much as anything else.

 

Notwithstanding all that – the Flower Festival will take its rightful place in the Annals of the Appeal alongside the Auction of Promises and everything else as truly memorable, hugely enjoyable – and as a very worthwhile Fundraising activity. Thank you all so much.

 

Liz and John

 

 

 

Flower Festival Photo Gallery