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Tsunami

Village Events Committee

 LITTLE BIT OF OOH LA LA!!

No not Moulin Rouge but the day the French Market came to Swavesey!

We went early to avoid the crowds that we thought there would be, so early in fact that some of the stallholders were still setting up. Despite this there were already plenty of people walking around and arriving on foot, by car, bicycle. The delicious smell of freshly baked croissants filled the air and there was a queue. Should you have wanted to you could buy your croissant and then a jar of honey or jam to go with it. Familiar fruit jams were on offer plus some more unusual varieties and there were flavours of honey that no local honey bees could have produced- well when did you last see an orange grove in Swavesey?

Another stall had garlic cloves, big and fat and bursting with flavour and you could buy a string or just a clove and again varieties that you just do not find in Tesco. There was soap, the smell of which filled your nostrils as you got near the stall, cider… which I have on good authority was excellent!. Cheeses, which were very popular, and since baguettes had now joined the smell from the baker in the corner I saw many people walking away with bags filled with the necessary for an impromptu picnic. Ok so December in England may not be quite the right setting but a picnic in front of a blazing fire has its appeal! There was pate and sausages too.

One stall selling vivid tablecloths evoked the hot sunny days of summer in southern France, and another was selling winter jackets to keep out the fenland winds. Children were not forgotten, with a stall selling sweets of all colours and little confections and nuts and there was jewellery and pretty hair slides and even a few hairpieces.

Above all there were people, people from Swavesey, from Over, from everywhere, the queue for the baker got longer and longer he could not keep up with demand.

For us there was only one problem, we are used to walking round French Markets in shorts and sunhats, it just did not feel right doing it wearing an overcoat and scarf!

Well done to Peter Marriot for masterminding the whole thing and let's hope that this may become an annual event, or as they say in France "Encore"

TSUNAMI  DISASTER  FUNDRAISING  EVENT
(held on 10/1/05) 

    A big, big THANK YOU to Swavesey one and all!!  This fundraising event was well supported by many local residents, clubs and companies in Swavesey and due to your help we managed to raise £1462.75 with monies still coming in.  Money raised to date will be paid in via Oxfam in St. Ives on Wednesday 12th January, direct into the DEC Emergency Fund.  As I am a taxpayer I will "giftaid" the donation, which will thereby add a further 28% to the money available to the DEC.  This event was an urgent response by village members to the Tsunami Disaster and organised in less than one week.  I must apologize, therefore, if any clubs or organisations were not aware of the event.  No exclusion was intended, just a realistic response within a limited time.  The real essence of a "village community" uniting to respond to this deserving cause is one of the wonderful plus points for me in living in a village like Swavesey.

    I decided on the 10th January, as this was my birthday and thanks to the overwhelming response from you all in donating, helping and in joining in the fun on the day, you have all made it a birthday I will never forget - again, thank you.

    Especially grateful thanks go to the kind hardworking ladies in Swavesey W.I. and Swavesey Playtimers, for getting stuck in at short notice.  Thank you to Swavesey Over 50's Club, Meridian Womens' Club, and Swavesey Billiards & Snooker Club for donations of money and to Alan's Carpets, Vijay Patel at Mace and Davis Catering for donating items for sale and catering.  Raffle prizes were kindly donated by: MG Owners's Club, Aqua, Swavesey Surgery, White Horse Pub, Eyes of Swavesey, Linens and Things (Newmarket), Le Shoppi and by many, many individuals and friends and members of my family.                                              

Sally Hardy, 36a Boxworth End, Swavesey.

Village Events Committee

The meeting held on January 11th discussed the success of the French Market (this raised £150 - donated to the Play Area fund) and the Christmas Lights. Both these events were organised by the Events Committee. A few comments on the French Market were noted and in future it is intended that litter bins will be provided, hot drinks and seating available and improved car parking directions. 

The Committee was originally set up to only give advice and not to organise events so by organising the French Market it exceeded its remit. The Committee has been in existence for a year and in that time no organisations or individuals have approached the Committee for assistance so it was decided to change its remit and it now intends to continue organising events as well as giving advice and assist to others.

This year it is hoped to organise a Farmers Market, a return of the French Market and the Christmas Lights. If anyone has any ideas for other events for this year or in the future then please let the Committee know.

The Committee are in existence to provide events of interest and entertainment for the village and welcome any suggestions or offers of help. Contact the secretary Helen Pheysey on (01954) 204244 or come along to the next meeting on Tuesday 8th March at 8.00pm in the White Horse.