The Heritage Weekend

Once again the Heritage weekend has been and gone. The exhibition displaying maps and memorabilia from Fulwood, Past Present and Future proved to be a huge draw and we had many visitors through the door. Donations alone amounted to £255. But wouldn't it be nice if some of these visitors could actually be tempted to join our merry congregational band!

The maps showing the difference stages of the development of the area were very popular but the array of memorabilia also stirred a lot of interest and in some cases amusement too!

Amongst others, there was an old plane and a shoe tree, a mincer and iron, a balloon whisk and cream maker not to mention the clothes horse, sewing boxe and portable writing case - all from way before the second world war. Then we had some wonderful children's toys including Lexicon with a competition form still intact to be completed and sent in before September 1936!

And, of course, the stocks in the garden were a huge attraction!

The flowers, which were arranged by Maggie of Knab Fruit and Flowers, looked beautiful and hit just the right note for our theme of Past Present and Future.

But the star of the weekend must be our very own Washer Woman - Sue Hedges - who did a brilliant job entertaining the visitors with her 'memories' of life in Fulwood in times gone by! Her fountain of knowledge was incredible and she had people spell bound by her anecdotes. Thanks Sue - you were brilliant!

Harvest Festival

The setting up of the Harvest Festival went with something of a swing this year. Rumour has it that whilst Sue Toulson was beavering away in Chapel doing the decorations her father (Philip Cooper) was playing waltzes on the piano in the Deeley Room with Nora and Sheila dancing bust to bust around the vegetables! Despite the musical interlude, the chapel, as usual, looked beautiful - thanks to Sue and her trusty team of helpers (including the entire Hopkins family) and it was nice to see the Festival Service so well attended. Unfortunately, June Pettitt our student pastor, mentioned the harvest of the sea and now Sue, already thinking about next year's harvest decorations, is wondering where she could put the gold fish and water feature!!

The candle-lit Harvest Supper held that evening in the chapel brought forth the usual merriment.

Afterwards the produce from the Harvest was sold off and the proceeds from this, plus the supper and generous donations, meant we were able to donate £108 to the Women's Refuge.