THANKS to Pete Magill for the article in the Warrington Guardian (October 29).

It meant a lot to the volunteers who put in so much effort during October and in the months of preparation before.

Fairfield Fringe Festival was intended to complement Culture Warrington’s Contemporary Arts Festival which takes place during October every year (how many people know that?).

Over the years, Culture Warrington has ignored local talent and preferred to involve people from outside the town.

The Fringe Festival was our way of promoting new and existing local talent in ‘inner Warrington’ and bringing it to the community via places that people use and are familiar with.

Community involvement is a cliché, but it can work.

At the Old School (your old school) we have an art studio, a textile art studio, a ceramics art studio, a dance studio, an ‘artist in residence’, a ‘poet in residence’.

Plus bingo, line dancing, Scouts, university of the third age, support groups, fitness groups, free computer classes, Warrington Blind Society, MacIntyre Charity.

We’ve invited Jan Souness and Helen Jones MP to visit us on numerous occasions. Neither have bothered during the (almost) six years we have been here.

By the way, we’re hoping the music and poetry at the Ring O’Bells will be a monthly event.

There is also an open mic night at the Marquis of Granby on the last Saturday of the month and a Sunday night Folk Club at the Bull’s Head.

This is all in addition to events in St Elphin’s Park and our newly refurbished tea room.

All done with voluntary help and involvement.

The Old School also got the national Queen’s Award for Volunteers 2014 presented by HRH the Duke of Kent (Helen Jones didn’t show up then, either).

The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire described what we are doing as being ‘the best community facility he has ever visited’ – although maybe he needs to get out more.

It’s not surprising that Warrington is rated so poorly for culture when it doesn’t recognise what it’s got on its own doorstep.

IAN SMITH
The Fairfield Fringe Festival and the Old School team

 

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