Fund Raising

Elford

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Fund Raising

SOME OF THE EVENTS USED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PLAYGROUND & COMMUNITY AREA

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PLAYGROUND AND COMMUNITY AREA

Since May 2002 a group of villagers have been trying to restore the playground area. Its a lovely site and will make a terrific place for holding village events in the better months. The village has already raised £16,000 towards the costs. Further grants are also being applied for.

Money is being applied for from the Lottery via the Local Heritage initiative. This money can only be used for the purposes of awakening heritage to people. The application we have submitted details to this

We intend to place a series of large stones around two sides of the playground. These will be of silver grey granite. They will project approximately 6'6'' from the ground. They will be four feet wide and a foot deep. Attached to these will be a series of figures from the history of Elford. A firm in Tamworth will laser cut them from steel. They will then be painted before being fixed to the stone. . A roman RAISUS CASHUS was made out of MDF as an example.

RAISUS CASHUS

If successful twelve figures will be set around the playground. From prehistoric man up to the present day. What would the figures be. Well from this point on the history of Elford will give us ample scope to choose. The history below will develop before your eyes as bits are added to it.

HERES THE GOOD NEWS

Successful application for £25,000 heritage lottery grant

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Due to the hard work and generosity of Elford villagers the application for a heritage lottery grant has been successful as a village we will have the opportunity to record our history on blocks of stone that will be there for a very long time painted figures will represent the community of Elford through the ages, generations of children will have their heritage around them as they play, villagers will be able to hold community events in a nice area there will be a nice focal point to walk to and simply sit and talk.

Grateful thanks are extended to all those who have helped so far, from making cakes, running stalls helping put up lights etc even to the youngsters who polished the apples for the medieval banquet the apples themselves were given as were the deserts.

Special thanks should also go to Ron and Jean for the wonderful web site, which is developing before our eyes great pleasure has given to a lot people seeing the pictures and information on this site.

The playground group has worked as a team in a series of events together these are the reasons why we have won the grants quite simply it has been recognised that the community is making efforts to help itself as a consequence it has been supported by lottery funding.

In respect of the heritage lottery the money is given to awaken our heritage all those who played a part in the Medieval Banquet (however small) including those who came and supported it have helped to win the grant.

The planning application is being processed as we speak when that is decided it will be time to start work if you can help in anyway with the building you will be very welcome skill is not necessary come and join in and have some fun there will also be a lot of satisfaction as the playground/community area develops.

ELFORD JUBILEE MEMORIAL PLAYGROUND - END OF 1st YEAR REPORT

There is great news in respect of the fundraising for Elford planned community area and playground. The group
commenced activity on May the 18th last year. Heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has helped in any way
with this project. There is no doubt that our grant applications have been successful because of the efforts of so
many people. Presenting those efforts in applications made the difference.

Fund raising events have included

September 21st 2002 - 'Party in the Park' on the Playground Site

Play Equipment moved from pattingham to Elford
October 18th 2002    - Bavarian Band Night in Elford Village Hall
November the 5th      - Bonfire at the Crown
December 7th 2002    - The first Elford Christmas Market in The Avenue
December 2002        - Carol Singing around the village by the youth club
April 12th 2003       - Medieval Banquet - The Knight before Bosworth - Village Hall
' Easter Sunday          - The Crown held an event at the pub and has promised a donation of £300.00 to the playground funds

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Grants have been promised from Lichfield Council of £4,000 for play equipment and £5,000 for building materials.
The May Fair has promised £1,000 for a shed to store equipment on the site.

£25,000 COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT SUCCESSFUL

This application will pay for large percentages of

The border oak

oak framed cart shed

the playing surface

play equipment

£25,000 HERITAGE LOTTERY GRANT SUCCESSFUL

This application will payfor

Stones set around the site
Painted metal figures fixed to the stones
Plaques telling the story of Elford
Money for the School

THE 2003 RAFT RACE

Elford's entry in the 2003 Hopwas to Elford raft race is the "Viking Warriors Team".

The team of 11 are competing in a home built craft which can be seen in the photo's undergoing it's first river trials all the crew members survived and the raft was considered a success.

The raft is now being fitted out for the race on Saturday the 7th June at 12pm the race starts by Sainsbury's island at the river near to the Jolly Sailor pub spectators are welcome.

Why the Elford team chose "The Vikings"

The great Viking army rampaged around England for 15 yrs in the time of Alfred the Great and in the winter of 873 they stayed at Repton.

An excavation there in recent years has uncovered a mass grave.

The Vikings used the trent as a main route into central England from the Humber estury they could also go north from the Humber to Jorvic(York).

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In 874 the vikings sacked Tamworth and burned the church down coins fromTamworth have been found in Scandinavian countries perhaps the Vikings made there way from Repton to Tamworth Via Elford-nobody knows.

Elford was certainly on the borders of Danelaw names such as Holme-- Catholme , Gungate and Aldergate date back to those times.

The town lay in waste for forty years, In July 913 Alfreds daughter Aethelfleda kicked the Vikings out, in 1913 Tamworth held celibrations in the park an ox was roasted on a spit by a local butcher.

In 2003 it will be 1090 years since the Danes left Tamworth.

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Hopwas to Elford is a long way but we think the raft will do it.

Come and support us on the day

WE GOT THIRD

The viking warriors left Tamworth with 15 other rafts and finished in third place behind two Hopwas rafts.

The drum beat from the Elford raft sounded out as the mighty vikings overhauled a number of other rafts the crew came under attack and had some pikes ripped of enroute and was also showered with eggs-flour and water as they passed under the bridge.

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At the end of the race the raft collided with the safty line and nearly capsized several vikings flew through the air with the greatest of ease fortunatly no one was hurt.

A really really great day was had by all thanks to those who organised it,other rafts said it was quite ominous hearing the drum approaching.

The raft won a gold cup for the "Best Theme" and a little viking warrior was very pleased to test it out.

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The viking crew(1090years after the real ones)went to the Crown which laid on soup and sandwiches lots of rafts from Elford took part including a team of youngsers lets hope it happens again next year.

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PARTY IN THE PARK

On the 21st of September 2002 the Romans Saxons and Vikings came to Elford for the Party in the Park.
In a village with so much history it was lovely to see re enactors in costume at the event.

THE ROMANS SAXONS AND VIKINGS

VISIT ELFORD

These photos are from the Christmas Market on the 7th of December it raised £2000 for the playground/community area and was about the real spirit of Christmas.

THE MAIN DISPLAY

THE HOWARD SCHOOL GETS A VISIT

On the 10^th April 2003 Richard the 111 and Lord Stanley visited the children at the Howard School.

Two knights in shining armour gave a talk to the children.
History was awakened with the story of Lord Stanley visiting Elford the night before the battle of Bosworth. Richard the 111 challenged the children to a battle and unfortunately for him they accepted.

THE CHILDREN ENJOY A TALK

BY RICHARD111 AND LORD STANLEY

THE KNIGHT BEFORE BOSWORTH

On the 12^th of April villagers at Elford attended a medieval banquet at

Elford Village Hall - "The knight before Bosworth".

Starring Greg Watkins as King Richard, Steve Jordan as Earl of Richmond and Brian Peresin Blanford as Lord Stanley. The top table with Stanley, Richmond, Margaret played by Yashenka Peresin Blanford, Ann Jordan, the priest Jacob Hall, Reverend John Fagan and the Abbess, Julie Fagan, looked fantastic.

Clare Cowley was Eleanor who told the story of when she was a young girl

working at the Manor house in Elford when great things happened.

Reverend John Fagan played Jacob Hall the vicar of 1485 and told of the

Church of that time. David Wain, farmer played the farmer of 1485 worried

about the men leaving the crops to go to war. Paul Thomas played the village

roofer concerned about not getting his money from Lord Stanley. He told of

the cruck framed building (Johns shop) which dates from the early 1400's.

Rebecca Cowley 10, Hannah Watkins 9 and Rose Cowley 8,sang songs to Lord

Stanley. This was to the guitar music of the Abbess of Burton played by Julie

Fagan. Yvo and George Peresin Blanford were pages to Lord Stanley.

Jane Hill, Carolyn White, and Clare Cowley played guitar and sang the

Chastity Belt song and others.

Dick Cowley and Alan Betts were varlets in arms who roasted the pig for the

feast. The pig was well received when it was carried in. When the battle

came these two varlets together with Steve Poutney put Richard 111 to death.

THE KNIGHT BEFORE BOSWORTH

BEFORE THE BANQUET

The Banquet

The following photographs are of the banquet"The Knight Before Bosworth"

The 2004 Duck Race

The 2004 duck race on 13/06/2004 was to raise money for the village hall and the BBQ and bar after was for the Playgroud funds.

The photos below show the race and the good attendance at the BBQ after.

THERE OFF

rounding the first bend

Heading for the bridge

getting a bit strung out

Out of the bridge

and onto the home straight

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