Calor Village of the Year - 2008
CORNWALL
VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
COMPETITION
2008
On May 6th 2008
Week St Mary was entered into Cornwall
Village of the Year Competition. The
submission involved completion of a very
extensive application form which
required us to provide very detailed
information on our village life (clubs,
groups, organisations, institutions
etc), its inclusive nature and the
involvement of people in the village.
Week St Mary was
short-listed to go through to the second
stage of judging involving a visit by
the judges on Wednesday 6th August. The
judges were looking for evidence of
community involvement, pride and
initiative. Preparation for the day
involved putting together a range of
materials that would show WSM in its
best light. A computer displayed a
visual presentation, and information
pack of details on all village
activities were speedily compiled.
On the day the
judges, Lady Mary Holborow J.P.
Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and Mr Peter
Burton from Cornwall Rural Community
Council (CRCC) were treated to tea and
biscuits in the Methodist Chapel
Schoolroom and met with an enthusiastic
group who are closely involved with
village organisations/clubs etc. After
the initial shock of seeing who the
judges were, we realised what we had let
ourselves in for! After seeing the
10-minute film and asking questions
relating to our written submission
everyone was submitted to a gentle but
thorough grilling. The judges were well
prepared and well versed but thankfully
so were we! This was followed by a quick
tour around the village and special
interest was paid to the bio-loo in the
Church! The whole presentation lasted
nearly two and a half hours after which
the judges said that they had had a
wonderful time. All we had to do then
was wait.......
In the meantime a
personal letter from Lady Mary expressed
her thanks and congratulations to all,
saying 'I think everyone can be very
proud of the community spirit in Week
St. Mary and what a thriving and
supportive community you live in.'
On August 13th a
letter from CRCC stated that the results
and presentation of Cornwall Village of
the Year awards would be at Truro on
Friday 29th August at 2pm. The
mini-Oscars for Week St. Mary!!! So keep
your fingers crossed everyone as winning
this could give us entry to the National
Village of the Year Competition where
there is an opportunity of sharing an
estimated £30,000 prize fund.
I'd like to thank
all those who provided us with the
'ammunition' and/or gave up their time
at the presentation. Thank you to David
Martin who put together a most
impressive visual pastiche of village
life - and the judges were impressed. In
particular, a big thanks to Linda
Cobbledick, who not only allowed me to
'pick her brains' for the original
submission but also stepped into the
breech to host the day on behalf of the
village, and who could not sleep the
night before!
• • • STOP
PRESS • • •
We have just
heard that the village of the Year was
won by St Day, Redruth and that we
received a Certificate of Commendation,
lets be proud of OUR village.
Tricia Kabler,
Competiton Co-ordinator.
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Linda Cobbledick & Tricia Kabler
holding Week St. Mary's Certificate of
Commendation |
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