Goosnargh and Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival

Triumph for Alex!

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Massive thanks to Alex for yet another truly spectacular Hallowe’en Event. Needless to say the Village Hall was packed and it was fabulous to see so many young families joining in.

You had to be there to fully appreciate the work that had gone into creating a really spooky entrance experience leading on into a room dripping with miscanthus and awash with laser lighting etc.

Special thanks to DJ Colin, Judith & Sharon from the Committee and to Alex’s Team of Caroline, Lynne, Diane & friends; also to everyone who donated cakes & Raffle Prizes

It was great to see Festival Queen Romilly, with such a wealth of supporters all really contributing to the success of the evening.

Final word from Alex: “I’m already planning next year’s event”. The village is very fortunate to have you!

Next up!

Festival AGM

7.30pm Goosnargh Village Hall Committee Room

Tuesday 13th November

Everyone welcome

Please come along and support the work of the Festival Committee

Good as New Jumble Alert

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Festival Autumn Sale Saturday 13th October

The Festival Committee needs your help once more to ensure the success of our Autumn Good as New Jumble Sale, a major fund raiser for the Festival.

Please take this opportunity to recycle unwanted good quality clothing, giftware, books, shoes, bags, bric-a-brac etc etc.

Good-as New items are particularly welcome and rest assured that all goods unsold on the day are collected and distributed to aid programmes & local charity shops.

If you enjoy baking, your donations to the refreshments stall will be most welcome.

Donations may be brought to Goosnargh Village Hall PR3 2BH on Friday afternoon, 12th October 2.30pm to 7.30pm and on Saturday 13th October up to 10am. The Sale opens at 11am.

Please note:
There will be a door to door collection around the core of the village on Friday afternoon. Please label bags clearly for collection.

Thank you for your support!

Festival Update

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Massive thanks to Whittingham Sports & Social Club Committee!

This evening Festival Queen Romilly & Princess Sadie received a cheque for £500 from the Committee towards the ongoing costs of staging the Festival.

Romilly congratulated the Committee on the success of their Beer & Sausage Festival and thanked them for their most welcome support.

Romilly’s next engagement is on Saturday, when she will present the Children’s Section prizes at the Goosnargh Flower & Produce Show.

Dates to remember:

Saturday October 13th … Autumn Good as New Jumble Sale

Friday26th October … Alex Johnson’s Hallowe’en Extravaganza

Sunday 3rd February 2019 … Selection Day Concert

Festival Day is Saturday 1st June

This year’s theme: Flights of Fancy

Celebrating 100 years of transatlantic flight

2019 Update

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Selection Day 2019 with a concert taking place in Goosnargh Village Hall in the afternoon, is Sunday February 3rd 2019.

Make a note of the date now and join us as we celebrate the launch of our new Festival year. The theme for the festival will be “Flights of Fancy” – 2019 is 100 years since the first powered flights crossed the Atlantic.

A reminder also that our Autumn Jumble Sale 2018 is Saturday 13th October and Alex Johnson’s Hallowe’en Extravaganza 2018 is Friday 26th October.

Festival Success!

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Massive thanks to everyone for a fabulous White Doves Festival Day. Fortunately the weather dried up on cue and the effort put in by all our Float Builders, Fancy Dress Competitors, entertainers and musicans added up to a day New Queen Romilly and retiring Queen Niamh will never forget.

Special thanks Sue for a beautiful and very fitting presentation to mark the centenary of the ending of WW1 – the doves did far more than just words to imprint this Festival day on our memories.

As a mark of our gratitude to PC Banks for 14 years’ wholehearted support for our event, he was presented with an inscribed pen, made by Committee member Colin Gornall. We look forward to working withFelipe, Bernie & their hard working Police Cadets again next year.

Paul Cross was once more Star of the Celebration Tea – would you credit that all of those immaculate sweet creations came out of one small kitchen?

You all know we depend majorly on a massive band of volunteer helpers assisting the committee on the day. If you helped set up the field, buttered bread in the kitchen, marshalled the Procession, swept the village hall floor, etc. etc. etc – we are immensely grateful.

Please make a note of next year’s date: Saturday 1st June now – the more volunteers we have the greater the enjoyment for everyone.

We thank Niamh for continuing to represent us, along with her sister Roisin, with such dedication and we wish Romilly a very happy year as our village ambassador.

As she said in her speech, Romilly hopes to use her year in office to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and next Spring she will host an event in support of Elsie Finney House in memory of her late Grandfather.

Give her a cheer next week in Longridge!

Festival Approaching

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There are many small ways you can help us make Festival Day the best it can be.

If you enjoy baking your contributions to the Celebration Tea will be most welcome. The Village Hall will be open from 9am, just call in. We also need help in the kitchen, particularly in the busy 4-5pm period.

We are fortunate to have Police Cadets helping Marshal the Procession this year – please join them and help us ensure a safe Festival for everyone. The briefing is at noon in Goosnargh Village Hall and High Viz jackets are provided.

Join the Raffle Team – all you need available from the Raffle car opposite The Grapes Inn.

If watching with family & friends remember that events begin at 12.30pm & the road closure comes into operation at 1pm.

If we have the resources we will do our best to lift the closure when it is safe to do so- it’s all down to man power!

Please register your floats and claim your expenses now.

Jumble Sale

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Brilliant News!

I am delighted to let you know that the Spring Jumble Sale on Saturday raised £1490.

As you know this is a major fund raiser for the Whitsuntide Festival and we are well on track for our White Doves Festival Day, 2nd June, commemorating the centenary of the ending of WW1.

Huge thanks to the Community of Goosnargh & Whittingham. Once again,  the superb quality of the donated goods has most definitely put this event on the Dealers’ maps and we thank them for braving the cold on a very difficult day for travelling.

With masses of support to sort the jumble, run the stalls and clear away we were finished in record time, and all left over items are now on their way to local and international aid agencies. Thank you to our army of volunteer helpers who support the Committee so magnificently and particular congratulations to the Good as New team – £400 was raised on that stall alone!

Special thanks to Retiring Queen Niamh and her sister Roisin (Festival Queen 2016) and Festival Queen Elect Romilly plus new Princesses Sadie and Isobel and friend Beth for pitching in to help with such enthusiasm.

If you sent in some jumble, baked a cake, helped with the leaflet drop or contributed your support in any other way – THANK YOU!

We are now signing on Maypole Dancers, first rehearsal 4.45pm Thursday 12th April in the Village Hall PR3 2BH.

If you are thinking of entering the Decorated Float competition help and advice is available and there are photo’s on the website www.whitfestival.com to spark your imagination.

For entry forms for the Decorated Floats and vehicles or the Shops, Houses & Wheelbarrows competition and lots of friendly advice just call in at The Chippy – it’s not too early to start planning!

Festival Update

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Here is an update on our exciting plans for Festival Day 2018, Saturday 2nd June.

Excitement is mounting in Romilly’s household as White Doves Festival Day 2018 takes shape.

The Festival team are delighted to be working with Sue Brown and her “Doves of Life” to mark the Centenary of the ending of WW1 in 1918. The Festival Procession will be led out by 19 yr old Jennifer Birkett followed by our youngest “Peace Children” and St Francis’ “Little White Doves”.

Jennifer will carry a single white dove in an ornamental cage. Our Festival Queen elect, Romilly Louise Taylor has chosen the colour forget-me-not blue to reflect the WW1 theme and also as “Forget me Not” symbolises the Alzheimers Society. This
is in memory of her Grandad who died recently.

Romilly is particularly pleased to have the support of her fellow Queen candidates as she prepares to take up her role as village ambassador for the year. A retinue of Princesses aged from 4 to 12 years will include Romilly’s sister, Sadie. Sadie’s twin brother Matthew will carry their Mum’s wedding tiara to the crowning platform. It promises to be a very emotional occasion for the whole family.

In the presence of the Mayor & Consort of the City of Preston, MC Nik Birkby will welcome Special Guests families & friends as they gather to witness a “Doves of Life” tribute and message of peace. Retiring Queen Niamh will read a short passage, Queen elect Romilly will release a single white dove from her hands and a total of 21 white doves will fly, the number 21 being a reference to the 21 gun salute.

Following this, events will unfold according to tradition and as always the return procession will culminate in the legendary Celebration Tea in the Village Hall.

Lots more information to follow and please remember our next Festival Fund Raising Event, The Spring Good-As-New Jumble Sale in Goosnargh Village Hall, 11am on Saturday 17th March. If you are new to the village and keen to get involved come along and talk to us on Jumble set up day, Friday 16th March 2-7.30p also check out the extensive photo galleries on the website and follow our facebook page.

Showtime Success!

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Congratulations to Romilly Taylor, Festival Queen elect 2018.

Romilly’s name was selected by Festival Queen 2017 Niamh Quigg during a stunning “Showtime” concert which played to a packed Village Hall last Sunday afternoon.

A delighted audience enjoyed a fabulous afternoon’s entertainment and Goosnargh & Whittingham’s 2018 White Doves Festival was launched in grand style.

Performers from 4yrs to young adults displayed a huge range of skills from the youngest St Francis’ Primary’s Glee Club to Musical Theatre, Classical and Aerial ballet of outstanding quality by aspiring professionals.

We were very pleased to welcome Councillor Trevor Hart, Deputy Mayor of the City of Preston, to witness the selection of our new Festival Queen and enjoy our legendary Goosnargh hospitality.

Event Manager Alex Johnson was warmly praised by all present for an outstanding “Showtime” – our thanks also go to everyone who took part both back and front of house.

Photos of the event can be found here!

Festival 2018

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Goosnargh and Whittingham “White Doves” Festival 2018 is to be launched in spectacular style.

Come along to “Showtime”, a feast of local talent to celebrate the selection of our Festival Queen 2018 by reigning Queen Miss Niamh Quigg.

The date is Sunday 4th February. Registration of Queen candidates is from 12 noon to 1pm

The show begins at 1pm and home baked refreshments will be served in true Goosnargh style during the interval. Festival Queen selection will be at around 2pm and there is to be a Grand Raffle before the second half.

Performers include Aerial Artists Hannah & Grace Chadwick; pupils of St Francis’, Oliverson’s and Whitechapel Primary Schools; Carol May Academy Dancers and Students of Musical Theatre from Preston’s College in what promises to be a wonderful celebration of young talent organised by the Festival’s Event Manager Alex Johnson.

Special guests will include Councillor Trevor Hart, Deputy Mayor of the City of Preston

“Showtime” takes place in Goosnargh Village Hall PR3 2BH.

Don’t miss it!

The Goosnargh and Whittingham White Doves Festival takes place on Saturday 2nd June this year and marks the centenary of the ending of hostilities in 1918.

The theme is “Peace and Harmony” and THERE WILL BE WHITE DOVES!!

Please put the date in your diaries and prepare to join in the fun!