What a cracking day it was on Saturday. A fantastic
afternoon of poets in the Library, then an evening in the market square seeing
the lantern parade and being part of the entertainment, before dancing into the
night at the Fox & Hounds, with other events and celebrations happening
throughout the day. A most incredible atmosphere, built from a lot of people’s
love for their town, even the weather (certainly in the evening) was on our
side. What a superb thing to be a part of.
We have to thank library staff and the Friends of Stony
Stratford Library (FOSSL), for helping us instigate, organise and run our
event. All of the performers for each bringing their best, and helping us to
run a slick show by sticking to time and keeping the atmosphere alight. Everyone
who donated refreshments, friends and family for showing up and helping where
needed and all the audience for turning up, enjoying it, and sticking around!
Of course huge thanks and respect to Richard Frost for setting up the PA and
organising the space, and for being co-host, and pretty much making the thing
happen.
We have received the great news that the library would like
such an event to be a feature of future switch-on days, and looking at the size
and general joy of our audience I’m not surprised. It was a great day.
Also thanks to Ian and Michele Welborn regarding the
switch-on itself. There WAS a mix up at the time of the lights due to some
confusion backstage, but I followed a brilliant performance by the Pantomime
crew before being introduced by our dapper Town Crier onto a stage in front of
what must be my biggest ever audience. Reception to my “Illumination” poem, on
the night and subsequently, has been good. Which is a fantastic feeling. Also,
having followed a tribute to one of the crew who had died unexpectedly just
hours before the big day, my ode to those who “bring the light” seemed more
fitting.
Stony Lights had the party, and the audience, that it
deserved. And again, I am so incredibly happy to have been a part of it. And
the “After the Lights” band in The Fox? A truly perfect celebration.
I’m certainly looking forward to going back to the
high-street for another look and finishing off the Christmas Shopping.
more about Stony at http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Buckinghamshire/Milton-Keynes/MK11
