Ilkeston & West Hallam - A Fun-filled Weekend
w/e 23 July 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
There are some weekends when there are no official
events organised, then there are others such as the one of July
15th/16th when there is so much going on that the choice seems
endless. We were busy on Saturday morning doing our voluntary
stint on St Mary's Coffee Bar but after lunch made our way to
Cotmanhay.
On Beauvale Drive Play Area the Arena Church had organised a
family fun day with children’s games, crafts, a bouncy castle,
free refreshments, face painting and sporting events.
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There was also a children’s entertainer on hand to keep
everyone amused.
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Advertised as a "Serve Day" it was "A chance for
the Arena Church to love and serve the community".
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At the same time as the Arena's event the League of Friends at
Ilkeston Hospital were holding their Summer Fayre where there
was another bouncy castle as well as a trampoline to keep the
children entertained but also a selection of classic cars for
the older generations to inspect.
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The Rotary Club members were kept busy providing food for many
of those attending.
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Gazebos had been erected with several local businesses raising
money to support the hospital in its invaluable work and displays
were well received on the car park. Dance Divas with several
age groups performed their routines to the enthusiastic crowd
- the youngest group picture here.
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Sunday was a busy day with a family get together but we did find
time for an evening stroll in Victoria Park.
The Derwent Valley Wind Band gave a concert on the refurbished
bandstand with a selection of popular melodies. We particularly
enjoyed the medley from "The Sound of Music".
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On Saturday there had also been the Fire Station Open Day which
we didn't have time to fit into our schedule nor did we get to
West Hallam for the opening of the Well Dressing Festival. Although
we missed the main event the Well Dressings were on display all
week so we knew we would be able to see them later. When we did
get there on Monday, we found the Elvis, thirty years after his
death, had in fact left the building but could be seen outside
the old village school hall.
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The annual Scarecrow Trail runs in conjunction with the Well
Dressing Festival and at Scarecrow Headquarters another anniversary
was being celebrated with a depiction of the first heart transplant
by Dr Christiaan Barnard on Lewis Washkansky who survived for
18 days in 1967.
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We may have missed the crowds on Saturday but while we were there,
we were joined by about 90 schoolchildren who were being led
around the village by their teachers to view the well dressings
and the scarecrows, some of which they had been involved in creating.
Well it's better than sitting at a desk any day especially when
the sun is shining!
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