Down
in the Dell 2014
Some new stone walling for the Dell
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| Before…. |
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| ......... after. |
A Plaque for Pearl
We now have
a plaque in memory of Pearl Braddock, who
started Friends of the Dell. It can be found on the seat at the north end, appropriately
overlooking the children's play area that she pioneered by campaigning for
small items that toddlers could play on. Pearl's family are now scattered
around the country and, indeed, the world, but it is hoped that a reunion in
the Dell can sometime be organised to celebrate her life and her work for the
Dell. 
Posted: 9th September 2014.
Thursday 21 August
We have so far held three very successful family bat
evenings courtesy of the Big Lottery. Having exhausted our available grant
funds, we wanted to continue the tradition so we were obliged to make a
charge of £10 for a family. Whether this caused a drop in numbers we cannot
be certain, but it was disappointing to have only 8 children. Nevertheless,
they clearly enjoyed the session, ably led by Vicky Dunne (Worthington, as was) of Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust, even though the evening was unseasonably cool, and very few
bats registered on the detectors.
The
bat and moth game.
Bat
hunting for real.
Posted 24th August 2014.
The Dell Music Festival
Once again we did it in the Dell! With a grant from North Leamington Community Forum and in partnership
with Hybrid Arts we held our third Music Festival for young musicians and
aspiring groups on Sunday 22nd June. As the day approached the weather
forecast improved until we were blest with a warm, dry and mostly sunny day.
Word had got around on Facebook and Twitter with the result that at any one
time there must have been several hundred people in the Dell. The Star and
Garter and the Fat Pug supplied hefty burgers and hot dogs for hungry
groupies. Trinity PTA were there in force with sweets and soft drinks. June
Doveton did the face painting, and the OWLs (One World Link) were there too.
Graffiti artists BRINK produced two spectacular works in the course of the
afternoon, while budding toddlers had their own blackboard to display their
artistic talents in chalk. Meanwhile, photographer Simon Burgess has created
a portfolio of pictures to commemorate the occasion.
But of course, the main attractions were the groups
whose enthusiasm and confidence were matched by their high standard
throughout the afternoon, interspersed with impressive performances from
talented young soloist singers Joel Shippam, Esther Turner, Joe Dolman and
Megan Lara Mae.
Jabba Cartel mixed an uncanny blend of acoustic drum
and bass trip-hop Latin folk Cuban raga techno rhythms and then left us to
get devoured by the Moog (…or so my
expert source tells me. Ed.). Trinity School based Strictly Business were
ably guided by drummer and budding impresario Adam Biddlecombe, followed by
the school's Year 8 band and choir whose adult talent and professionalism
belied their age. Dell familiars the Swaps stepped in almost at the last
minute when the billed group had to withdraw through illness, and proved as
exciting and innovative as ever. Bunsen Honey have been described as "a
time capsule of 70s AM radio Americana scuzzed out of all recognition with
distorted piano, thumping bass and thrashing drums". Go Primitive lived
up to their name, wild, hairy and constantly on the move, with their powerful
guitars, and thriving bass – a huge and unforgettable sound. Blackwater Ridge
recreated the Classic Rock vibe, with a mixture of covers and their own
material. The event climaxed in the early evening sunshine with the audience
on their feet dancing to the indie/ska/reggae tracks of Grassroutes.
With many thanks to organisers James
Knight, Chris Meeke, Adam Biddlecombe and Stewart Duthie, and to Rob Sargent
for his PA and meticulous control of sound levels, Chris Yates for supplying
the power feed from his house, various Friends of the Dell for delivering
flyers, Kangs Costcutters for sponsoring our new banner and above all to
North Leamington Community Forum for the grant which enabled us to stage the
event.
Posted
3rd July 2014.
The Dell Party, Sunday 18th May
Our 17th annual community Party enjoyed possibly its
best weather ever and certainly its highest turnout. It was dry, mostly sunny
and very warm. Lots of families arrived with picnics. The children loved the
Punch and Judy show, bouncy castle, and the face painting. A good variety of
excellent music was laid on by seven local groups: All or Nothin', Cellar 8,
the Hangover Blues Band, Hole in my Shoe, the Spa Strummers Ukulele Group,
Talismen and Wes Finch.
Our VIPs this year were the Chairman
of Warwick District Council, Cllr.
Clare Sawdon, the Deputy Mayor of Royal Leamington
Spa, Cllr. John Knight and Chris White MP. Local sponsorship of raffle
prizes, banner, flyers, real lemonade and the bouncy castle included Dell
News, the Grove Practice, Haddie and Trilby, Havana, Kang's Stores, News Plus of
Regent Street, the Oddfellows,
Sign Works, the Star and Garter, Stonemonkey, Sweet As, TWPrinting, Wigwam and the Woodland
Tavern. A grant from the Town Council covered our insurance while the
District Council had not only mown and strimmed the grass but also
thoughtfully provided a row of wheelie bins, all of which were full by the
end of the day.
Many thanks to all those volunteers
who delivered flyers, organised the music, helped set up in the morning, sold
homemade cakes, raffle tickets and lemonade, supervised the bouncy castle and
generally made it all possible. Above all our thanks are due to everyone who
turned up to enjoy a glorious day, and whose donations will help us put on
another party next year.
Photo: S Lilley
Still lots of people at the Dell party in
late afternoon.
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