Earlsdon Festival rescued

Earlsdon Street during the 2011 Festival
Earlsdon Street during a recent festival

Following last month’s news that the annual Earlsdon Festival would not take place this year because of a lack of volunteers, ECHO is pleased to report that the popular event is now back on.

Members of Rotary Club of Coventry Phoenix will now work with the Festival Committee to allow the May Day event to go ahead. There will also be a programme of music and arts fringe events during April and May, as in previous years.

More details will be in the February issue of ECHO, which will be in the shops by Saturday 30 January.

Cat Missing from Stanway Road

IMG108Rachel Merry is desperately looking for her cat Molly in the Stanway Road area of Earlsdon. She is a small butterfly tabby with areas of ginger and white. She was last seen on the evening of Sunday 10 January. She has a reflective silver collar with 3 bells on it and she is micro-chipped. She is 18 years old but still looks very kittenish with a pretty face. She was fit and well with no signs of illness. To be missing for any length of time is very out of character and she usually comes when called, never appearing to wander very far.

If you can help contact Rachel at 43 Stanway Road, CV5 6PH, or phone 07910-486540.

Beechwood Avenue petition extended

The petition for a safe crossing on Beechwood Ave near the junction with Rochester Road has now been extended till the end of February. Paper petitions are also now available.

If you would like to host one please let the petition organiser know via ECHO.

You can still sign online. Thanks.

Correction: Earlsdon Wheelers’ delayed start

Earlsdon Wheelers’ weekly cycle rides will set off from the City Arms at the later time of 10.00am during January, rather than the previously reported 10.30am.  We apologise for the error.

The group organises a friendly countryside ride between 20 and 50 miles each Saturday morning, weather permitting.  New riders are always welcome.

Earlsdon Wheelers’ delayed start

Earlsdon Wheelers’ weekly cycle rides will set off from the City Arms at the later time of 10.30am during January.

The group organises a friendly countryside ride between 20 and 50 miles each Saturday morning, weather permitting.  New riders are always welcome.

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.