October 2021
Remembrance Plans Announced for Shipston
This year, Remembrance Sunday is 14th November. The Royal British Legion (RBL) has been working closely with the Town Council, Police, Lions, St Edmund’s and the Town Band to agree a format for the morning and this will involve both a full parade and service at St Edmund’s.
Parade participants and spectators are invited to assemble in the High Street from 10am in preparation for the parade, led by the Town Band, moving off promptly at 10.45am, 15 minutes later than usual.
To enable as many participants as possible to witness the laying of wreaths, the reading of the names of the Fallen and the Two Minute Silence, all three of these elements of the service will take place in Church Street in front of the War Memorial.
The members of the parade and those members of the public who feel comfortable to be indoors with other people will then enter St Edmund’s for the remainder of the Service – limited to 330 people total and masks will be mandatory. For those who would normally attend the service, but are uncomfortable doing so, it will be screened live in the High Street on a big screen hired by the Town Council. The funding for the big screen was provided through the Welcome Back Fund, from the European Regional Development Fund money through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
At the end of the Church Service, the parade will reform and return to the High Street, led by the Town Band. Following fall out, all are welcome to join the RBL in The George.
Further details will be published on Facebook (Shipston Notice Board and Town Council), as well as on the RBL and Town Council websites and on the RBL Notice Board in The Bury.
Armistice Day will be observed on Thursday 11th November with a Two Minute Silence in the High Street outside The George at 11.00am.
For more details about Remembrance fortnight or to find out about joining the RBL as a member,
Continued Success for Shipston Town Band
After 18 months when they were unable to perform in public due to the pandemic, the Shipston Town Band recently travelled to Kidlington to take part in a competition organised by the Oxford and District Brass Band Association.
Held at the Exeter Hall, the band conducted by Howard Gibbs played a varied programme and were placed second by adjudicator Alan Morrison. The March The Avenger by William Rimmer was contrasted by the Christina Aguilera hit Candy Man. Principal Cornet Grace Coates was the band soloist and played a solo aptly entitled Grace originally composed for Kirsty Abbotts. The programme concluded with The Triumph Of The Optimists by the Italian Composer Armin Kofler. All in all a very successful day and great to be performing again
Band Member on the National Stage
Young cornet player Luke Barker has had a momentous period. In August, Luke was appointed Principal Cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain made up of the very best young players in the country. This prestigious position has been held by many of the very best cornet players in the country since the band was founded in 1952.
In October, Luke played assistant Principal Cornet for the famous Flowers Band at the National Brass Band Championships at the Albert Hall in London. He had the added honour to play with the world-famous Black Dyke Band in a cornet trio Bugler’s Holiday alongside their solo cornets.
After winning the inaugural Phillip McCann International Slow Melody Competition, Geneva Instruments provided Luke a new cornet as a prize. Luke recently visited the Geneva Workshop at Stokesley and tried out a number of Geneva Heritage cornets — the instrument developed by Phillip McCann to enhance the lyrical sounding qualities of performers.
Shipston Town Band are proud of the grounding Luke received as he progressed through the sections and reached the level he has reached. He has maintained his connection to the band and regularly assists both the Town Band and Stour Concert Brass.
2022 Grants for Community Initiatives
Shipston Town Council is inviting grant applications for the 2022/23 financial year, which begins in April 2022. This year grants totalling more than £20,000 were made, supporting a wide range of community initiatives across the town, delivered by voluntary groups and charities.
The scheme is open to any voluntary group or charity based in Shipston, or those who actively work in the town. Grant applications must be for specific projects, for example, the purchase of equipment or to support a planned event. Typically grants range from £250 to £2,000 for individual organisations, however, larger sums can be made available for
some causes.
The closing date for applications is 30th November. Application forms can be requested from the Town Clerk (see page 15 for contact details).
Grants from Shipston Educational Charity
This year nine applicants to the Shipston Educational charity received a total of £1340 in grants. Each year local young people can apply for funding to support their educational aspirations with applications invited during mid-summer.
End of an era for The Wool Fair
After 11 years of staging the fabulous Shipston Wool Fair it is with sadness that the Wool Fair committee has taken a unanimous decision to discontinue the event.
As many of you are aware, the logistics of putting on such events is no mean feat, both in the huge volume of work that is involved and the sheer numbers of people - some with specialist skills in the agricultural sector - required to pull it off.
Forging links to its past as an old - “Scepwaestune”- Sheepwashtown - the Wool Fair has been an enormous success. It has raised awareness of Shipston’s history and links with the Wool Industry and local farming community; provided local craftspeople with the opportunity to show and sell their wares; enabled local musicians entertain and created a community event catering for all ages.
The committee would like to sincerely thank all the many people who have been involved in helping make the Wool Fair possible each year. The event simply couldn’t have happened without all the dedication and hard work contributed by a wide array of volunteers from our local community.