Festivals - In Derby,
Ilkeston & Long Eaton
w/e 05 July 2009
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
I recently made a comment about waiting for ages
for a carnival then two come along at once but this week carnivals
have been replaced by "Festivals" with at least three
being held locally.
We begin with that unique Derbyshire tradition, a Well Dressing
Festival and this picture comes from the opening ceremony under
grey skies by civic dignitaries in front of the Guildhall at
Derby.
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Many Derbyshire villages have several wells that are decorated
during the summer but here in the county town, there is only
one well to be dressed. Although it is traditional for religious
themes to be shown as thanksgiving for the water, the theme for
Derby's display this year is "Shoot For The Moon".
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This week also saw the start of the two week Ilkeston Festival
where local schools, community groups and professional arts organisations
came together to present a programme of art related activities
and exhibitions. On Tuesday lunchtime the sound of steel drums
sounded out across Ilkeston Market Place from in front of the
Town Hall to an appreciative audience.
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The music was provided by the students of Bennerley Fields School.
The school provides day education for pupils with moderate and
severe learning difficulties and one of the school's aims for
the students is "To develop a sense of pride in themselves,
in their school and their community and in their achievements".
Following their public performance this week, that's one aim
they can mark as "Completed With Distinction".
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  The Ilkeston
Festival programme includes activities at venues right across
the town including one at the Bloomsgrove Centre (left). The
centre that provides day care for learning disabled adults, hosted
a project for an enthusiastic group led by Wash Arts, a not-for-profit organisation
working in the community to develop and co-ordinate creative
and cultural opportunities.
The ongoing project under the title of "In The Garden"
includes a number of creative activities and on this open day,
the group worked outside but took shelter under a gazebo on one
of the hottest days of the year to make a number of decorations
that will be hung in the garden.
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It's amazing what can be created by recycling some wire coat
hangers, plastic carton lids and a few old buttons together with
a little imagination but these decorations made by the group
members will be an attractive addition to the garden when hung
from the trees and allowed to blow in the wind.
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Our third and final festival for the week opened the following
day when the blue skies and sunshine had been replaced by heavy
rain. Pictured shortly after the opening this was the view of
St Laurence's
Church in Long Eaton where their first Flower Festival was
being staged.
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Two years in the planning the festival took the theme of "A
Floral Alphabet" and the interior of the church was beautifully
decorated throughout with displays representing every letter
of the alphabet. Seen above as well as two general views of the
interior we have W for Wedding on the left, D for Dance in the
centre and R for Rainbow on the right.
Special times in the Christian calendar were also featured in
other displays including Christmas, Easter and Pentecost but
pride of place must be given to this display representing the
patron saint of the church. Saint Laurence was martyred in Rome
in 258AD after giving the church's treasures to the poor against
the orders of the Emperor Valerian. He was burned on a gridiron
and his emblems, a gridiron, a dish of coins and a book that
he always carried were incorporated into the flower display.
Saint Laurence's Day is August 10th.
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