New year 2020 Chairman’s Report

Fen Edge Festival 2019 – Report and Acknowledgements

Once again, we enjoyed a memorable weekend of music, food and activities and the weather was very kind to us.  I believe that the festival represents all that is good about village life—a very spirited and dedicated group of people come together to deliver this very special event.  Consequently, there are a lot of people who were involved and who need to be thanked.

The festival organising committee was a great team.  These are the people that really make the event happen.   The committee comprised Lucy Dumbrell, Rebecca Norman, Amy Pledger, Bob Turner, Tom Wykes, Paul Knighton, Linda Cockburn, Peter Haigh, Simon Bye, Simon Heath, Paul Mappledoram, Will Stockford, Alan Mappledoram, and Annabel Gerrard-Croxon.

In addition, there were many people who helped with the running of specific events, participated in shows and demonstrations or helped on stalls or hosted a festival signboard.  We also had over 100 volunteers. It is easy to miss the role they play in making the event run smoothly and safely.  Thank you to all of you who volunteered. The roll of honour is Sue Arnold, Graham Arnold, Louise Augarde, Kathryn Aybak, Tunc Aybak, Paul Beastall, Wayne Bell, Rebecca Bell, Richard Blakesley, Tricia Bradley, Matt Bradney, Fi Bradney, Nick Bryant, Marielle Burgess, Tim Bustin, Sara Bustin, Rex Collinson, Louise Cooke, Julian Cooper, Geoff Cornwell, Sally Cragg, Andrea Cramp, Martin Croxon, Christian Dahlqvist, Wendy Dear, Carly Foss, Liz Gander, Rachel Gibson, Alice Gough, Matt Graves, Richard Gymer, Lucy Hall, Peter Hewitt, Marie Claire Hiscock, Charlotte Hobley, Charles Hobley, Gaynor Hollander, Noel Hughes, Kerry Hunt, Helen Hurworth, Tracy Hutchison, Jane Hutchisson, Adrian Ient, Nick Johnson, Paula Johnson, Alison Jones, Lin Joyner, Michael Kaloo, Caroline Lee, Andrew Lee, Trudy Lee, Martyn Leeks, Steven Libby, Linda Lloyd, Todd Lowings, Benoit Macon, Richard May, Justin McCann, Neil McDiarmid, Emma Mcaughan, Emma Morel, Liz Morris, Greg Mould, Moyra Mould, Monica Musgrave, Damyn Musgrave, Kay Neish, Marzia Neri, Matthew Palmer, Nick Parker, Pri Pinnaduwa, Andy Pledger, Nicola Pledger, Cilla Reid, Liz Roberts, Carol Robinson, Deborah Robinson, Bruce Robjent, Irene Robjent, Douglas Robson, Kaye Rooney, Andrea Sabbatini, Mel Saunders, Rob Saunders, Ben Shimmens, Rachel Shore, Vyv Simpson, Mike Smith, Sue Smith, Beth Stevens, Leon Stone, Daniel Stone, Jenny Swindell, Simon Thomas, Andrea Thomson, Samantha Upham, Yvonne Walsh, Laura Webb, Julie Welford, Steve Whyatt, Rachel Whyatt, Andrew Windebank, Dani Wykes and the numerous ATC Cadets.  My sincere apologies if you helped but your name was omitted—thank you all the same.

We received invaluable financial support from sponsors. Particular thanks go to Cottenham Parish Council and the team there who not only sponsored the event but also enabled us to use the Village Green and ensured it was perfectly prepared.  Thanks also to Cottenham Village College who also allowed us to use its grounds and facilities.  Our sponsors were Malary, Bellway, Durman Stearn, Giuseppe Piran, Gas Monster, Voland Roofing, Cambridge Glassblowing, Clear Glass, Excelcare, BV Services, Lynx Autocare, S. R. Harradine, The Curry Palace, Amey Cespa, Aviva Community Fund, Steve Davies Creative, Travis Perkins, Haart, Polarglaze, Dentons Carpets, Speckled Frog Web Design and Screens & Graphics. We used their generous financial support to ensure that the main events were free (like the evening concerts, junior disco and children’s entertainment) or subsidised (like the crazy golf, the “last man standing” and the carousel).

See the sidebar for the festival accounts. Of the surplus, £4,800 was passed on immediately to FECA member organisations and the balance retained by FECA for future grants to other organisations.  The main beneficiaries from the Festival were Rampton Friday Club, Sustainable Cottenham, Willingham Youth Trust and Cottenham Tennis Club, which each received £1,200.  Including the additional amounts raised directly by FECA member organisations over the weekend, at least £15,000 was raised for charities and community organisations in the Fen Edge. 

So finally, thanks to all of you who attended.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Neil Gough