'From the Chairman' (followed by the Blossoms report)

DO YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE TO HELP?

If you have a a bit of time to spare, perhaps two or three times a year (especially in early November), Haddenham Bonfire Committee would like to hear from you.

Every November Fairchild's Meadow plays host to the annual Haddenham Bonfire & Fireworks Display. The Haddenham Bonfire Committee put on a spectacular and colourful fireworks display which you can watch from the warmth of a blazing bonfire - the right to ignite the fire being given to the child or children who make the best Guy.

It would be nice to think that setting all of this up and cleaning up afterwards just happens, but alas it does require a bit of effort. Not much. Just a bit. The Bonfire Committee puts in a few hours two or three times a year - primarily Blossoms & Bygones and the Robert Arkenstall School Fayre - to man our stand selling burgers and hotdogs, the income from which contributes towards the putting on of the November pyrotechnics. There are also plenty of jobs on the day of the Bonfire itself, from setting up the field, to stewarding, serving food, assisting in the display itself (after appropriate professional training) etc., not to mention an hour or two to clear up the following day.

We would like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in either our fundraising or the event itself. On the basis that many hands make light work, there is no minimum commitment to be involved. If you can only spare an hour that's an hour's effort we can gladly make use of. Call our Chairman, Robert Bush, on 749792 for more information. Also call the same number from late September onwards if you have any wood, posts, felled trees etc. that you think could make good fuel for the bonfire.

HADDENHAM FUN RUN CANCELLED

Apologies to those who look forward to the Haddenham Fun Run but unfortunately the Bonfire Committee are unable to organise the event this year. Efforts were made to find an alternative organiser but ultimately these proved unsuccessful so the event has had to be cancelled. We are happy to talk to anyone willing and able to organise the event in future years. Please contact Robert Bush on 749792.

Haddenham & Aldreth Blossoms & Bygones

Sunday 9 May 2011

We had our marquee on the Crossroads Green again this year. As usual we had hot dogs, burgers and drinks for sale.

The weather was good so the villages of Haddenham & Aldreth played host to a huge number of visitors. We would like to think they came for our locally sourced best quality sausages and burgers, but in truth the two villages had many other attractions including the famous tractor rides, a double decker bus from many years ago, the brick museum, visits to the church tower (rare views of the village from this lofty perch) many private gardens, the restored mill- well the list goes on and the visitors were spoiled for choice.

This year Aldreth had made a splendid effort to create a forties theme to commemorate VE day. Many villagers were strutting about in real forties clothes and dozens of cars from the period turned up to park in gardens and on the street to give a genuine feel to the village.

Many Haddenham houses along the tractor ride routes were decked with bunting and flags, so the visitors sitting on straw bales set up in the high trailers got a good view as they whizzed from one attraction to the next.

Back in our marquee the food was selling fast and we were 'sold out' before the end of the day. The treasurer reported that a good sum was added to the bonfire night fund- so thank you to all members who contributed their time to this event- and of course a big thank you to our many customers.

Keith Miller

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