Bag2School – Raised £270 – Thanks from Anne Deane

Just to let you all know that I have received the total for the Bag2School collection last week.

We managed to collect 540kg in weight, thus raising very creditable £270 for the School & Village Association….. £10 more than last time.

Many thanks to the trusty band of bag deliverers – Fleur Clegg, Karen King, Fiona McLeman, Jane Mills, Fiona Roby and Claire Wheeler – who valiantly help me ensure that a bag is delivered to every house in the village?

Very many thanks to you all,

Anne Deane

 

Annual Report of the Committee for 2011-12

S&VA COMMITTEE REPORT FOR 2011. Dry Drayton School and Village Association. AGM February 9th 2012.

Introduction

Many of those present tonight will know that the S&VA is a registered charity (Dry Drayton School & Village Association) and that we have been running since 1975! We work to support the school and the community by organising fundraising and social events throughout the year.  We own two marquees which are hired out and these raise a significant amount of funds year on year.  They also give our local men and school Dads (and Mums too!) a chance to get together as erecting the marquee is followed by a refreshing drink in the pub!  The monies raised from our activities are donated to the school to support library purchases, residential trips and many other things besides to benefit the pupils, which the school would not otherwise be able to afford. To that end we operate as a parent-friend association (a bit like the old fashioned PTA). As we are such a small school and village and as each is so important to each other, the village joins in with the parent association side of the S&VA to make it a real community group. We support the village as well, for example, by funding the newsletter and starting up other initiatives such as Baby Owls, Freaky Friday, the village coffee mornings and co-ordinating Feast Week and so on.

2011 events

2011 has been quite a year for the S&VA.  At last the long awaited new marquee was both purchased and named “William and Kate”.  We also named to “old” marquee “Peter and Paul” – thanks to Ellen Adler’s great suggestions.  Two celebratory events were held in fantastic weather at the beginning of September including a “Poems and Pint” night.  Thanks to those involved with St Giles Cricket Ground for allowing us to hold these events there.  Thanks also to the Press Relief Fund and to our private sponsors for making this possible.  The marquee team was hard at it again proving a major source of 2011′s income as Roger will report later.  Particular thanks are due to Robbie Hawkes, Neil Harris, Chris Mills and their supporting crew. We are always on the lookout for new recruits to the team. In February we held a Beetle Drive and in April a Chill Relax and Pamper Evening.  Thanks to Lorna Carter, Ali Arnold and Karen King for all of their help and organisation of the Pampering evening and to Gill Jones and Pat Carter for running the raffle on both occasions and for all of their help with the Beetle Drive. Thanks also to Fleur for organising the Beetle Drive. In April we had the Royal Wedding celebrations, in relation to which Fiona and Scottie on behalf of the S&VA worked with the Church to organise a fabulous street party and associated events. We even had our picture in the CEN.  Thanks to all concerned. It seems a long time since Feast Week but what a fantastic week it was!  All the events were very much enjoyed – Games Afternoon, the Fun Run, The Art Group’s inaugural Ploughman’s proved very popular, Bingo, The Forum Art Group’s Exhibition, Friday night’s Safari supper enjoyed a most beautiful evening, Saturday breakfast and of course the Fete and Parade on the theme of “Dry Drayton by the Sea”. Once more the Dry Draytonians excelled themselves with their costume choices and the Punch and Judy show had children and adults alike transfixed.  On top of all that, about £1,500 was raised for the S&VA – a great result from a week which is about celebrating our community. We would like to record our thanks once more to all those involved, especially the Feast Week committee co-ordinated by Lorna, the various event organisers and the Fete sponsors. A well attended and much enjoyed Call My Bluff Wine Tasting event was held in the village hall at the end of September.  Our thanks again to Stewart Travers and the team from Cambridge Wine Merchants for a great night and to Fiona for all her organisational and wine pouring skills! Thanks also are due to Fiona for the inaugural community market held in October.  The Bag2School second hand clothing collections have continued to be not only a significant fundraiser, but also an excellent incentive to clear out our wardrobes, and we plan two further collections in 2012. Thanks to Anne Deane and team for co-ordinating this for the S&VA again.  The S&VA fundraising year ended with our inaugural Advent Fayre in early December organised by Lorna and team.  Lots of children came to visit Father Christmas and enjoy the making of reindeer food, pinning the nose on Rudolph and Christmas art amongst other activities.  Thank you for all who helped in any way, in particular Father Christmas of course!  We raised around £240 which was a bonus as the event was mainly organised for fun.  This event is a good example of how fundraising is not always the S&VA’s overriding driver as we also organise activities aimed primarily at bringing people together. The Thursday Village coffee mornings continued to draw people together and at the same time produce a healthy income for the host organisations. On behalf of the S&VA, I would like to thank the team behind the S&VA-hosted coffee mornings and in particular Anne Deane who has been the driving force behind the rota.

Plans for 2012

Turning to 2012, this was always going to be a busy year with the Queen’s Jubilee, the London Olympics and the Football Euro Championships.  However we already have plans for a Beetle Drive, a Murder Mystery and a Pampering eve!  Plans are also afoot for another fun-packed Feast Week, Bag2School clothing collections, marquee hire and a variety of other possible events for 2012/13 including a possible Race Night. In regard to the marquees, 2012 will be an especially busy year as Neil Harris reports that we currently have gross orders in the region of £3,000.  So increasing the membership of the marquee team is particularly important this year.  Neil is very keen on having a ladies team!  As Roger will report in more detail, 2011 has been another successful fundraising year for the S&VA and it is safe to say that the S&VA is making a real difference. In terms of planned expenditure in 2012, the aim is to continue to support the School and our usual village expenses, with any special projects to be considered as they arise. The budget for 2012 will be agreed at the first termly of the year at 8pm on Thursday, 15th March in the School hall, so do please come along.

Thanks

Having just heard Kate’s report and the detailed report Mary Barnard gave us in October, I am sure you will join me in congratulating the staff, governors, pupils, parents and everyone involved, on the school’s many achievements in 2011. We look forward to participating in the school’s plans for 2012. We have really appreciated the time Kate and Mary have taken to report on the school’s activities at our meetings and I hope that parents in particular can see the impact the S&VA donations have on what the school can offer the pupils. In regard to the newsletter, Sylvia Pryer continued to do a stalwart job editing the Newsletter in 2011, ably abetted by various contributors and IT experts. Together with the Lorimers and the Newsletter delivery team, Sylvia has kept the village in touch throughout the year, despite some difficult times, and I know you will join me in thanking them all most warmly on behalf of the whole newsletter community. The committee would also like to thank our newsletter advertisers who generated income of £2,700 for the S&VA in 2011. Before I finish, on behalf of the whole committee I would like to thank everyone who has supported the S&VA in 2011 – your contribution is invaluable and essential to the success of the S&VA.  Thank you especially to all our families and partners without whose back-up it would not be possible to support the S&VA to the same degree. May I particularly thank my fellow Committee members very much for all their sterling work, especially Fleur Clegg for all of her hard work as Chair over many years who is now stepping down from the Committee.  Also thanks to Chris Mills who stepped down earlier this year. Finally, in terms of the Committee, we would very much like to have some new members who are also Parents at the school as this helps enormously with input from the School. We do not have a Chair at present but I believe that all of the existing members – with the exception of Fleur – are all willing to stand again.  I hope that the newly elected committee together with any new members can continue to count on the support of everyone connected with the school and village so that the S&VA can continue to make a difference to our community.

Thank you

On behalf of the school and the village, we thank Fleur Clegg for her energy, insight and leadership as Chair of the S&VA since 2007. She joined the committee a couple of years earlier and has been involved in most aspects, most notably setting up the very successful Bags for Schools, arranging advertising for the newsletter and helping with a wide range of social fund-raising events. She is standing down from the committee with the S&VA in good health and confidently looking to the future.

 

Feast Week is here – the marquee is up and signs and bunting decorate the village. The planning that has gone into the week’s events has been enormous and particular thanks are due to the (entirely voluntary) Feast Week committee, led by Lorna Carter and all event hosts and helpers. More on this in the next issue.

The next newsletter will not be until September, so keep a look out for events planned between now and the Autumn and note the August deadline for submitting items to Sylvia. Note the possible new marquee “launch event” on Friday afternoon on the 9^th September.  The next Bags2School second hand clothing collection will be in the Autumn – remember shoes, clothes, bedding, belts, handbags and soft toys are all accepted. The next termly meeting will be on 20^th October at 8pm and the acting head of the school, Mary Barnard, will be speaking.

Wishing you a very enjoyable summer!

Fleur Clegg

NEXT 2nd HAND COLLECTION, THURSDAY 31st MARCH!

The next Bag2School collection in aid of the School & Village Association will be on Thursday 31st March. Good quality second-hand adults’ and children’s clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes, belts and handbags are all wanted (please no bric a brac).

Do please bear this in mind if you or your relations are having a clear out (or you are looking for an outlet for leftovers from a jumble sale elsewhere). And remember – the heavier the bags the better, as Bag2School pay us per kilo! As before, bags will be distributed, but any kind of bag can be used.  Please bring all bags to the School, or leave them outside the Village Hall, on the day (preferably in the morning but by 2pm at the very latest). Collection may also be possible if you are unable to deliver.

Another collection is planned for October 6th.

Please contact Anne Deane on 01954 789622 or 07718 305141 for more info or to discuss collection.
Thanks!

Happy New Year to you all from the committee!

After a successful fundraising year last year, plans are already afoot for 2011. Dates are still being finalised for some events, but the first date for your diary is:

Saturday 12th Feb 3 – 5 pm BEETLE DRIVE. When was the last time you played ‘Beetle’? All ages welcome – please see separate ad for details.

Other events include a wine tasting and a Pampering evening, with dates to fit with other groups’ potential events (such as G&S and Kate Woolf evenings).

The next Bag2School Collections for 2nd hand clothes, bedding, shoes etc are on 31 March and 6 October, keenly awaited by many already!

The AGM is on Monday 7th February at 8pm in the School Hall. Please come to hear reports of the S&VA’s and School’s activities for the year – a last chance to hear from Miss Dorrell at our meetings before her maternity leave, and enjoy a glass of something afterwards. New joiners to the committee are most welcome for the elections – please contact me if you are interested.

The next termly gathering is on Thursday 24 March at 8pm at the School where the 2011 budget will be set and plans for the year ahead outlined. The school has a number of projects in mind and parents will hopefully be keen to participate in fundraising ventures.

Feast Week planning will also begin shortly, as you can see from Lorna’s letter – volunteers please contact Lorna Carter!

Many thanks for your continuing support of the school and village!

Fleur Clegg
fleur.clegg@allenovery.com

September 2010 Report

It seems a long time since Feast Week but what a wonderful week it was! All the events were thoroughly enjoyed, the weather was glorious and the enormous effort all the volunteers kindly put in was well rewarded. There was a fantastic costumed turn out for the Saturday circus parade and fete and Charlie the stilt-walking circus artist certainly helped bring the theme alive. Games Afternoon and the Fun Run were very well attended, the Pimms, Puddings and Purchases night raised enough to buy every child an ice cream on the school trip to Hunstanton (I have it on good authority that this was much appreciated!), Saturday breakfast was a hit as ever, and a good time was had by all at the Real Ale, Quiz and Bingo nights. On top off all that, about £1300 was raised for the S&VA – a great result from a week which is about celebrating our community.

Many thanks and congratulations to all the organisers, helpers and participants. Particular thanks to the Feast Week committee – Lorna, Karen, Georgina, Ali, Ilektra, Jenny, Marie, Chris and Jane – and S&VA event coordinators Diane, Trevor, Rob, Roger, Neil, Ian, Ash, Danny and Aaron and The Black Horse, Rosemary Scambler and team and Pam Ducker and team. Thanks also to the School and staff, Marquee and bunting teams, Jason for the PA system and Phillip our MC, our quizmaster, the Church for again providing the children’s supper at Games Afternoon, Springhill Equestrian Centre for the pony rides, the Methodist Church for their facilities, St Giles Cricket Club for various assistance and all the very generous raffle prize donors. So many people pitched in to help barbecue, run fete stalls and Games Afternoon activities, do teas, bake cakes, scones and puddings, donate bottles, marshal the parade and fun run, judge the fancy dress, sell raffle tickets etc etc -  I know that the committee would very much like to thank you and your families most warmly (not to mention pencil you in again for next year)!

Anyone new to the village do take note that Feast Week is around June 29th, the Church Feast Day, and volunteers are always much appreciated.

The next Bag2School collection in aid of the S&VA is on Thursday October 14th. All good quality second hand bedding, clothes, shoes, belts, bags, curtains and soft toys much appreciated – the heavier the better. Please bag them up and bring them to the village hall coffee morning as usual.

The next termly meeting is on Monday October 18th, 8pm at the school. All school parents and village residents are invited. Please do come along.

Finally, back by popular demand, we are holding a Hoe Down on Saturday 25 September to celebrate the start of the new school term and gather people together. It will be in the marquee on the school field with a hog roast and puddings and Black Horse ale, cider and wine will be available. We are delighted to have secured The Cambridge Crofters to play and do hope you will join in – tickets are selling fast so book now to avoid disappointment! (See separate ad. Help also appreciated – please contact Georgina)

Fleur Clegg

May Report from the Village Newsletter

Activity this month has been focused on planning for Feast Week (Monday, June 28th – Saturday July 3rd) and there are lots of fun events planned (please see the separate announcements in this issue). Please do come forward to lend a hand – for example, manning a stall at the Fete for an hour or so would make a big difference in enabling everyone to have a chance to enjoy the day with their families and the committee may not be aware that you would like to help!

The annual cricket fixture with St Giles is also planned to take place this summer on the Scotland Rd pitch – please contact Neil Harris (789049) if you are interested, especially if you are new to this fixture.

The marquee has had its annual clean and is currently awaiting the Black Horse beer festival. It is available for hire in and outside the village at very competitive rates, so do bear it in mind if you are involved with a suitable event (Neil is the contact).

Please keep your recipes coming in and, if you missed the Bag2School 2nd hand clothing collection at the end of April, the next one is on October 14th.

You might have spotted some new developments at the School over Easter – some much needed and very smart bicycle and scooter racks, and the library refurbishment may well have been completed by the time you read this, fundraising for which many parents and villagers supported last term.

March 2010 Report on Activities

January saw the Clothes Swap kindly organised by Lorraine Lorimer and team – a great opportunity to revamp and recycle at the same time and the kids in particular really enjoyed the chance to ‘shop’. Do come along to the next one – if only to see what it’s like and enjoy tea and cake!

February has been a relatively quiet month for the S&VA apart from the AGM due at the end of the month.

Feast Week planning has kicked off, so keep an eye out for announcements and requests for volunteers (Monday, June 28th – Saturday July 3rd) . Various suggestions have been made for events over the coming year, ranging from a ‘talent night’ (so dust off your X-factor winning routine just in case), a camping night, a casino night and a barn dance or party. All thoughts and organisational help welcome.

We are also looking into creating an S&VA cook book with tried and tested favourite recipes, the simpler the better, so do think what your signature dish is – be it scones, pudding or curry!

The 2010 Bag2School 2nd hand clothing collection dates are Thursdays 29 April and October 14th.

The next termly meeting will be on Monday, 22 March at 8pm at the school – all school parents and village residents welcome.

Fleur Clegg (Chair)

November Report

The termly meeting was held on Monday October 12th at School and we were very pleased to introduce Kate Dorrell, the new headteacher, who spoke about plans and new ventures for the school and pupils. Business included reporting on previous and proposed activities for 2009 and Roger talked through the accounts which showed that the S&VA has so far enjoyed a healthy fundraising year ahead of budget (thanks in no small part to the wonderful Feast Week). Nick Irish gave an update on action following the finalised village plan which should be dropping through our doors soon and Rob read out a lovely letter from Margaret Prosser thanking the S&VA for her retirement gifts and for its support during her time at the School. Along with friends and former colleagues, this month we also welcomed Margaret back to the village for a very enjoyable retirement celebration at The Black Horse, at which we also welcomed the School’s two Zambian Partnership school visitors.

The next meeting date is the AGM on February 25th, 8pm at the School. All are welcome – especially newcomers – to hear reports on the S&VA’s year, the Headteacher’s report and to appoint the Committee (volunteers please!) followed by drinks.

The Bag2School collection on October 15th at the school and village hall brought out a 780 kg pile of unwanted second-hand clothes and other items, raising a wonderful £312. Many thanks to all those who contributed – hopefully you are enjoying the new-found space in your wardrobes! Dates for 2010 collections are Thursdays 29 April and October 14th.

The Roaring Noughties revue on 20 and 21 November promises great entertainment – get your tickets early! Look out for tickets for the S&VA Christmas Raffle – to go on sale late November/early December with the draw in December (date TBC).

Save the date also for the S&VA Christmas Shopping Night on 3rd December at the School – enjoy mulled wine and a chance to stock up locally on Christmas presents from lots of great stalls. Any local residents who would like to have a stall (or need transport) please contact Georgina Mason on 07786 272406 or Fleur Clegg (789780).

October Update

Congratulations to Fiona and Springhill Equestrian Centre for organising a very successful horse and dog show and gymkhana on the Bank Holiday weekend. This revived a traditional village event and was much enjoyed by all. Hopefully we will have a repeat next year!

The next termly meeting will be on Monday October 12th, 8pm School hall. Business to include reporting on previous and proposed activities for 2009 and the village plan. This is a great opportunity to hear more about the village and the school. All school parents and villagers are invited, particularly new arrivals!

Other events coming up include the Bag2School collection on Thursday October 15th – bring your second hand items to the Village hall by 1130 and enjoy coffee and cake at the same time. The Roaring Noughties revue is planned for the 20 and 21 November – do get involved (contact Mara, Janet or Lorna)!  The S&VA will also be holding a Christmas Raffle with tickets to be sold in advance of the draw in the first part of December (more info to follow – if you can donate/help procure a Christmas-themed prize, please do let Fleur Clegg know (789780) – we already have a generous donation of a home-baked Christmas Cake).