FOOLOW WELL DRESSINGS

Last year the Foolow Well Dressing group honoured the Olympic Games in Paris. Knowing that theme was likely to be a popular one, they were determined that theirs should be as scrupulously accurate as the medium allows, right down to the unusual shape and scale of the winners’ podium! The familiar Olympic rings and torches were the work of Sue Rushforth and Eleanor Nancolas. Events in which Team GB won medals were illustrated by newcomer Emma Smith in the main board, together with an intricately detailed reproduction of the Eiffel Tower by John Palfreyman.

Under the guidance of Sophie Burch the village children produced a tribute to David McKee’s books about Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Sophie’s eldest daughter Zoë remembers: “There were so many different colours. My sisters and I had fun hunting for these around the gardens of Foolow!”

This year, says Zoë, their Well Dressing will celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. “We all love the way C. S. Lewis creates a mysterious world in which you can lose yourself in myths and magic.”

The theme of the adults’ well this year will be farming and food, under the title From Farm to Table. Work will begin in the Burdekin Hall on Friday 15th August, to be completed, in the usual fever of creativity, by Thursday 22nd. Anyone is welcome to come and see what’s involved, and perhaps even lend a hand themselves.

The glorious result will be officially revealed and blessed on Saturday 23rd August at 1pm by Dr Joanna Shapland of St Lawrence Church, Eyam.

Helen Gilbert will once again be co-ordinating volunteers providing refreshments in the Burdekin Hall that weekend, and during the rest of the week following, with all profits going to selected charities. The Well Dressing itself will remain on display on the village green until the end of the month.