Earlsdon Festival Cancelled

The organisers of the Earlsdon Festival have announced that the event will not take place in 2016.

The bank holiday Festival, regularly attended by up to 10,000 people, has been an annual feature in the Earlsdon calendar since returning to the local community in 2011. A lack of volunteers has left the current organisers with no alternative but to postpone the 2016 event.

A statement issued by the organisers said:

“We are a small but committed team of volunteers who have worked hard in recent years to put on a successful family festival in the heart of Earlsdon.

“Unfortunately, a number of key members left the organising team following the 2015 Festival and, despite our best efforts, those individuals have not been replaced.

“We have taken the difficult decision not to stage the 2016 Festival. Instead we will take stock of where we are, recruit new volunteers and review what is needed to ensure the Festival can return successfully in 2017.

“We know this will cause disappointment in the community and deprive Coventry of a key visitor attraction but there is simply too much work involved for the small number of volunteers we currently have available.
“We would wish to thank everyone who has been involved in recent years and to provide assurances to the local community that this decision was taken to ensure that we can put on a successful and safe Festival in 2017.”

This decision applies to the ‘May Day’ Street Festival only. There will be a number of music and arts events taking place in April/May that may be promoted under the Festival banner. A small family event is also likely to take place in the playground at Earlsdon Primary School as in previous years.

If you are interested in getting involved and helping the Earlsdon Festival Committee, please email: earlsdonfest@gmail.com outlining your experience.

Earlsdon Street Lights Up

Thanks to the sterling efforts of Sandra Grundy of Millsy’s and Street, there will be Christmas lights in Earlsdon Street after all.  She has managed to negotiate the lights going up this year with contributions from most of the traders.  In the February issue  we will be doing a feature on the lights and the issues involved, to raise awareness for the future, including a list of the traders who contributed to them going up this year and setting out some plans for fundraising next year.  In the meantime Sandra is meeting with the council in the New Year to discuss a way forward.

Close Shave for The Albany Pub

As part of on-going charity work for Macmillan Nurses, Albany landlady Lizzi Maxted–Bluck and her husband Ian Bluck will be taking part in a part-head shave and hair dye for the charity. Both Lizzi and Ian will be left sporting wildly coloured Mohicans to show their support for the cause.

The charity, which is close to the hearts of both Lizzi and Ian who have both lost family members to cancer, are dedicated to raising as much money as they can to the nurses who showed their empathy and help to the members of their family.

Lizzi says ‘The charity has done so much for me and my family in the past that I would love to be able to give back now. Any money raised will be a huge help as we hope to raise around £300 for Macmillan.’

The event is taking place at the Albany Pub on Friday 6 November at 3pm followed by performances from local band, Ten to Ten and also members of both Lizzi’s and Ian’s family. Customers are invited to drop in throughout the afternoon and can donate via the sponsorship form located in the bar.