2011 Events

(Click for reports on meetings & less recent events)

   1 Jan 2011    Mummers' performance
25 Jun 2011    Opening of Abbey Cemetery Path
    2 Jul 2011    Prior Park Buildings Promenade Party
10 Jul 2011    Alexandra Park Festival
17 Nov 2011    Rockness Mummers at Lyncombe Court
   1 Dec 2011    Widcombe Christmas Lights Switch-on

This year we were pleased that Crowe Hall was again the setting for another Bath Opera production in June, by kind permission of the Lees family. Following our picnics, we were entertained by Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.

Prior Park Buildings residents invited us to be their guests at a Promenade Party held in front of their terrace on 2nd July, where we wandered along beside the stream and admired their beautiful and varied front gardens while enjoying wine, music, and the company of other WA members - this in aid of the maintenance fund for the stream. (This was for WA members and guests only).

On 25 June a new footpath was opened that will provide a lovely round trip walk up to the Landscape Garden and back avoiding the main road. Alistair Durie's extensive knowledge of local history and St Thomas' has been taken in hand by Sian Lewis and Tony Coverdale and fashioned into a booklet that will was launched on 1 July at St Thomas'.

The concert is by a Handful of Singers was held on 18th June in the beautiful church of the Widcombe Baptists - a wonderful setting for an outstanding choir, joined on this occasion by a choir from Widcombe CofE Junior School.

There were more gardens (Lyncombe Court & The Grove on 17th June), walks, teas, and of course The Widcombe Art Trail on 11th & 12th June - with more artists and venues than before.

The Widcombe Switch-on 1st Dec 2011

In the alternative universe inhabited by Widcombe's Royalty, the dowager Lady Margaret, in the company of a fairy surely just descended from a Christmas tree, and her faithful well-tempered retainer Mr Steel, declared Widcombe's Christmas lights to be well and truly illuminated on 1st December. In order to add to the general excitement, our playful proto-princess invited her adoring acolytes to view the lights when revealed to them through a portable proscenium arch held manfully by the aforementioned faithful retainer whilst her ladyship pulled ever-so genteely on the curtain cordpull and revealed the illuminations in all their glory. Her ladyship then proceeded, as she is wont to do, spreading largesse to all and sundry and gladdening hearts all round in her usual fashion. As one of her aa's was heard to murmur: 'Eat your heart out, John Cleese'.

(ed note: The entertainer Mr J. Cleese had some time ago switched on the rather inferior Bath City Centre Christmas lights. It is rumoured that many honest common folk attended, but none was the recipient of the sort of largesse distributed by our own lady M. As the Widcombe song says:'She switches on the Christmas lights to bring us all good cheer..' - and long may she continue to do so!).

Photos by Anthony Grimley (www.antinbath.com)

The Mummers' UnConvention comes to Widcombe
17 - 20th Nov 2011

Widcombe formed the hub of Bath's recent highly-successful Mummers' UnConvention, organised by Widcombe's Mummers under Ian Gilchrist. The WA Events Committee organised an evening event at Lyncombe Court (By kind permission of hosts Chris and Denise Rogers) on 18th Nov, where the Rockness Mummers from Nailsworth gave a stunning performance. These are very hardcore mummers indeed, with impressive costumes, lots of violence and not least a ring of fire in which the whole performance takes place. Nobody mourned the passing of the evil city slicker, whose mobile appropriately rang in the middle of his performance. Many might be forgiven for hoping that it might not be the only occasion on which someone is summarily despatched having said the immortal words 'I have to take this'...

Photo by Cap o' Rushes. More pictures of the UnConvention here

Alexandra Park Festival - 10th July 2011

The Alexandra Park Festival was organised by the Alexandra Park Forum.
Photos below by Phil Bendall. More on the Forum website

The Prior Park Promenade Party - 2nd July 2011

The final event in the WA Summer programme was the Prior Park Buildings Promenade Party. Following the successful book-launch party at St Thomas' the evening before (St Thomas à Becket Church, Widcombe - a History) another beautiful Summer's evening saw Prior Park Buildings and their manicured gardens looking their best: bunting fluttered lazily in the soft breeze, the wine flowed and the duckings in the stream, proudly showing their diving skills, provided a splendid cabaret. As members and their guests chatted by the stream or viewed the fascinating historical exhibitions on display, choirs sang, musicians played - and all was right with the world.

The event was organised and hosted by the residents who did a wonderful job, and hopefully raised some funds for the continuing rehabilitation of Lyn Brook. (Photos by Phil Bendall)

Opening of the New Path through Abbey Cemetery

On 25th June 2011, the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Bryan Chalker, cut the ribbon to open a new path which will take walkers from the city centre through the Abbey Cemetery and via a new kissing gate into Blind Lane and upwards to Prior Park Landscape Garden. Rather than having to endure the noise and emissions of traffic on Ralph Allen Drive, walkers can now enjoy the beautiful views and fascinating memorials in the Abbey Cemetery en route to the gardens. The cemetery has therefore been returned to what it was always intended for - not only a place of rest for the departed, but a place for the living to enjoy. A new map designed by Rob Clements is now available on line.

The plan for the path and the new gate was the brainchild of David Waterstone, Chairman of the Cotswold Wardens. The wardens themselves, along with some enthusiastic help and the sponsorship of Bath Abbey and the Widcombe Association, have cleared the path and installed not only the gate but a viewpoint with a stone seat providing pleasing views over Widcombe and the City. Altogether over 1000 man-hours have already been spent on this work. The logs which were the result of the clearance were sold and the proceeds given to Julian House - as David Waterstone explained: 'As we had deprived some rough sleepers of their cover, we felt it right to donate the proceeds to Julian House, Bath's homeless charity'.

In cutting the ribbon, the Mayor was assisted by some of those intimately involved in the project including the Rector of Bath Abbey, the Revd Edward Mason; Andrew Gordon-Duff of the WA and the wardens; Chairman of the Widcombe Association Paddy Doyle; Cathryn Humphries, Neighbourhood Environment Manager for B&NES, and the Abbey's administrator, Charles Curnock. Widcombe's Mummers provided an appropriate air of levity to the proceedings with King Bladud and his Queen officiating and providing initially a garden shears for a joint effort in ribbon-cutting. This, however proved to be impossible, and the Mayor, armed only with a humble scissors, completed the task on his own. With the path officially declared open, the Mummers led a merry band up to Prior Park Gardens to picnic.

Photos by Phil Bendall/Paddy Doyle - more here

The Mummers perform on New Year's Day 2011

Widcombe's Mummers once again worked their New Year magic to a large and enthralled audience on New Year's day, 2011. This time the performance included a fire-breathing dragon who has captured a beautiful princess, reputed to be the King of Egypt's daughter. Mr Bold Slasher, a resident of Widcombe, made the first bid to rescue and win the lady but was slain by the dragon. The dragon in turn was slain by one George, a roving vagabond also resident of Widcombe, but apparently destined for greater things.

Mr Slasher later said, "Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated. I have every confidence that I will be revived by a Doctor. Sadly I am having to go private on this occasion as no suitable NHS doctor is available for call-out on New Year's Day."

George said, "Slasher is an idiot; he should never have taken on the dragon. It is only thanks to me that he was saved. I am now grateful to have won the princess for my wife, and also to Queen Bladud who has been kind enough to bestow on me the title of 'Saint'. I am very honoured."

A collection raised over £370 for St Matthews Church Hall.

Photo above by Phil Bendall. More photos here.