West Hallam - Well Dressings 2021
w/e 18 July 2021
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
In 2020 the coronavirus pandemic caused many events
to be cancelled and the West Hallam Well Dressing Festival was
just one of the casualties. This year the event has returned
to the calendar but in a much scaled down manner. Nine dressings
were on display from July 10th for the following week but the
usual festivities that take place on the opening day were not
held but plans are taking place to hold the Festival Day later
in the year on September 18th.
All of the well dressings are along the main street through the
village or in School Square. We began our look at them at the
gate to St Wilfrid's Church where this one was titled "Hope"
with the adjacent notice saying that "By improving access
to new and under-used vaccines, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is
transforming lives, boosting economies and making the world safer."
|
The next four dressings are all in front of the Village Hall,
three of them in the forecourt behind the railings. The first
was by the 10th Ilkeston Scouts and Voyager Explorers and is
called "Scouting @ Home", no doubt referring to their
time during lockdown.
|
The largest display was by the West Hallam Book Group and commemorates
the 70th anniversary of the Peak District's National Park.
|
This one was close to the railings in front of the Hall so he
photo was taken from above looking down. Stanley Village Community
Association "In Memory of Mrs Kate Salt" who was Treasurer
of Stanley Village Hall and it represents the quilts that Mrs
Salt used to make.
|
To the right of the door is Scargill Primary School's floral
display. Surrounded by more flowers the well dressing also bears
the words "Forgive Friends".
|
Also at the Village Hall is a stall where plants can be purchased
with the proceeds going to the Hall. Under normal circumstances
the village would have hosted numerous stalls on the opening
day raising money for many charities but this year that will
not happen until September.
|
You may have noticed a common theme running through this year's
well dressings of a rainbow. That theme is continued in West
Hallam Village Pre-School's contribution titled "Over the
Rainbow". The rainbow has become a symbol of hope during
the pandemic. The adjacent notice says that the pre-school children
have worked hard with the staff to design and prepare the well
dressing.
|
The last well dressing on the main street is by the West Hallam
Community Pre-School who decided to celebrate with flowers of
hope and their contribution was titled "Spread Kindness
Like Wildflowers".
|
Just around the corner in School Square the Stanley St. Andrew's
School continue the theme remembering all those affected by coronavirus
with a "Rainbow of Hope".
|
The final well dressing in this year's festival, also in School
Square, is by the West Hallam Minors Club. The children drew
pictures of flowers, water and wildlife to celebrate the original
meaning of well dressings - the abundance of water. The drawings
were combined to produce the design which once again features
a rainbow.
As things stand at the moment I don't think I will be available
to attend the September event but hopefully will be back at West
Hallam next year for a more normal Well Dressing Festival.
As it turned out I did manage to return in September for the
Festival Day - click here to see
the images.
|
