Councillor Hindley, Chairman, Parish Council.

In early summer I was encouraged to enter the above competition on the strength of the “village” organised developments in Cawthorne. I was pleased to find we were short-listed in the final four villages. We were only given two weeks to prepare our presentation but thanks to the help of so many people in Cawthorne we put on a very good show. The Village Hall was filled with exhibitions of artefacts, photographs and video films ranging from the Millennium Fete to Cannon Hall and the Brass band. We even had two antique Calor Gas bottles outside the door. The Young Farmers, the Brownies and the Guides had representatives available and the hall was packed with well wishers and villagers prepared to speak to the judges on the strengths of our village.

The main speakers had five minutes each to speak of their particular project. Frank Johnston, the Clerk to the Council, spoke of our Quality Parish Council status and Council involvement in the village. Councillor Alan Pogorzelec enthused on the Affordable Housing and what it has meant to him and his family. Roger Nicholson spoke of the Cricket Club building their Pavilion themselves and Sylvia le Bretton covered the village drama opportunities, both the young people’s group and the full village dramas.

The judges spoke to as many people as possible as they walked round the hall. They then had a tour of the village showing particular attention to the new Club House at the cricket ground, the Affordable Housing project, the village orchard and the new terrace at the front of the Village Hall. All points of strength in our application.

The judges commented that the displays in the Village Hall were very impressive, the speakers sincere and knowledgeable, and the technology inspiring. As the chief judge said, we should be proud to have got through to the heats of the competition and then to have secured second place. The cheque for £250.00 has gone towards the cost of the disabled entrance at the Village hall.

A big thank you to everyone concerned for the time spent in supporting our lovely village, the response to my call for help was magnificent, what a fantastic village this is. Thank you again.

Councillor Cynthia Hindley, Chairman of Cawthorne Parish Council; Chairman of the Cawthorne Village Hall Committee.

        5^th December 2007