Hidden Gems, Culture Focus
Promoting local organisations, projects and people
(Articles previously printed in the Fenland Citizen)
Working together – Wisbech Wool Shop
Regular readers will know that I write here to promote all the good things happening in the area and especially the people and places that make it special. I’m not the only one, there’s plenty of us out there – running businesses, and/or volunteering as part of groups, to improve the town and to help …
Rose Fair week
It’s Rose Fair week! Assuming you’re reading this in the week the paper is published, then from today (3rd July) you will find a number of Churches throughout the town taking part with their own themes and activities, so please check the Rose Fair leaflet or their website for more details, or just have a …
Wisbech Shopping Variety
As a market town Wisbech has always been a central place to shop for the townspeople and the surrounding villages, and presumably also to sell – I’m enjoying reading stories of strawberry picking at this time of year, and I wonder if they were sold locally as well as taken away to sell in larger …
Library ‘Engage’ Events
The library is of course a source of information on all things, but did you know they run regular activities and events? You can find something to suit everyone. I went along to one of their “Engage” events today, always the last Thursday morning of the month. Today’s Engage was with Diane Calton Smith, a …
Promoting Wisbech’s Independent Shops
A while ago a young reporter from Cambridge came to Wisbech and recorded his thoughts – mostly negative ones – as a Facebook video stream. I responded to him there and then, but it pushed me to get all these columns I’ve been writing off the printed page and onto the internet so I can …
Fenland Artists/Makers
Having recently spent time talking to people about how they came to Wisbech and what they see for its future, I am encouraged by the positive attitude and the community spirit. I’ve also noticed just how often those who do not live here, and only read the negative press, are surprised by how many interesting …
Heritage Forum
Following on from last time, I’d like to say thankyou to all those that were able to come along to the first Heritage Forum meet up. It was really good to have a chat about what you would say to someone new to the town, and then think of some of our lesser known, and …
February 2019
I hope you’re all aware of Thomas Clarkson and his brother and what they did to end slavery. Also of Octavia Hill, who started the National Trust and supported or started many other organisations to help bring about a more equal society. Then there’s William Godwin, the “first modern proponent of anarchism” and part of …
Play2Day
I finally got round to visiting Play2Day at Guyhirn. I took a group of teenagers for a game of Lazer-Tag and it was brilliant! A couple of parents played too, and while we thought 10 minutes wasn’t very long, it is actually plenty long enough when you’re chasing, hiding from, and shooting lazers at, the …
Centre of Heritage
As readers may already have noticed, I’m as keen on heritage places as I am about community groups and indie retailers. I think combining these are what makes a place vibrant. The history of a place and its buildings are a great resource for understanding the local area and so feeling a part of it. …