Spring/Summer 2022 | Chair’s Report

I am writing this piece while the winds from Storm Eunice, Franklin, George (which one is it now?) are whistling around the house. It is probably too early to start looking at the long-range weather forecasts but I am already hoping that the weather for the Festival (June 24-26) will be very different. You will be pleased to know that the work of the Organising Committee ably chaired by Tim Jones is proceeding very well. We have received many enquiries from groups and businesses wishing to get involved as exhibitors, stall-holders or sponsors. Thank you to those who have already come forward but we are keen to hear from others. Please contact me via chair@fenedge.co.uk

For those of you who are veterans of previous Festivals, you will know what a tremendous weekend it is for people of whatever age – there will be something to interest and entertain everyone. For those of you new to the villages, mark your calendar and come along – I think you will be amazed by the quality of the organisation and the scale of the event.

I have also made the decision to stand down from the Chair of the Community Association’s Management Committee at the next AGM in May. I have been the chair for 6 years and I think that change is good for any organisation. In my time as chair, I believe FECA has continued to grow and thrive as an organisation. The number of member organisations is now over 70 – about double the number in 2016 and these members are more actively engaged. One simple measure of the increased activity is the difficulty the Editor faces now with every Fen Edge News to accommodate the copy submitted by members. FECA’s grant-making has continued to grow alongside the membership and we now regularly give grants totalling more than £10,000 every year to community groups. It has been a pleasure to be involved in all this and while I step down as chair in May, I do hope to be able to stay on as a Trustee. I would also like to thank the other Trustees and members on the Management Committee who put considerable time and energy in to ensuring that FECA’s contribution to the community continues to grow. They have been and continue to be fantastic.

If you are interested in getting involved as a member of the Management Committee, do please get in touch. That particularly applies if you live in Rampton, Landbeach or Waterbeach which are underrepresented on the Committee at the moment. It is a very rewarding way to get involved in the life of the community and I thoroughly recommend it. Please send an email to chair@fenedge.co.uk and I would be very pleased to discuss with you.

In the meantime, please stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all at the Festival in June.

Neil Gough
Chair – Fen Edge Community Association
chair@fenedge.co.uk