St Levan Park Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is hosting their seventh family fun day at St Levan Park, St Levan Road, Ford on Saturday July 14 from 11am to 5pm.
There will be plenty to do and see for all ages including live music, family dog show, childrens entertainer, ice cream & burger vans, refreshment vendors, face painting & glitters, static displays, inflatables, charity, craft and produce stalls.
Younger visitors will be treated to 90 minutes of free entertainment by the renowned magician ZigZag, thanks to the fund raising activities of the Co-op Staff in St George’s Terrace. Last year, the inflatable “Last Man Standing” proved so popular it will return this year and will be joined by a large “Jungle Play Area”.
Gables are putting on their popular family dog show starting with “Best Behaved Puppy” which is bound to bring a smile to everyone. The organisers recommend owners start practicing for “Best Trick” and are looking forward to the ingenious outfits created for “Best Fancy Dress” class. Rosettes will be awarded for first to fourth places and the dog show will culminate with a championship class for all first place winners. The full list of all the categories will be on the Park’s notice board and can also be viewed on Gables’ Website.
The live musical acts line-up includes Sophie Louise, Kracken, Sounds of Scrap, Friends Uke-nited, MBC Harmony and The Sound Council. Visitors are urged to actively join in with Sounds of Scrap making music from the most unlikely recycled objects. As for the rest of the acts, sit back and enjoy the kaleidoscope of entertainment or sing along.
Many of the participants are local individuals or organisations raising funds and awareness for their charity. In contrast, there will be a return visit by residents from a “galaxy far, far away” so grab those photo opportunities. Be prepared for a few surprises, as final arrangements are still ongoing.
The Scheme formed in November 2007 when a few like-minded dog walkers got together to try to improve the area and develop a community spirit. Over the years, with the addition of more co-ordinators, the volunteers regularly deliver free Newsletters to the 600+ homes falling within the Scheme’s boundaries.
Vacancies currently exist for co-ordinators to coverBalmoral Avenue, Glenmore Avenue, Ryder Road and St Levan Road. From experience, the Neighbourhood Watch team know there is much work to be done on the day well before the start time and would be grateful for any help local residents can provide.
If you would like more information, please email StLevanNHW@outlook.com
…and reliving carnival in Stoke
Recently a small group of locals in Stoke Village were successful in securing Big Lottery funding to help put on an event which they hope will bring back memories of the great carnivals of the past that were hosted in Stoke Village.
Back before health and safety was on the agenda, the local community knew how to celebrate. It hosted dance groups, scouts and local businesses on the back of noisy, smoking flatbed lorries, and grumbled them through the winding streets of Stoke Village.
Kids in pushchairs shouted and waved to the smiling faces waving back, albeit getting a lung full of exhaust fumes at the same time – but this was the 1980s!
Nowadays, and with some good reason, the City Council is more reluctant to allow its young citizens to be this close to air pollution, never mind the fumes inhaled when tyres were popped on local Guy Fawkes’ Night Bonfires to spice up the flames.
However, partying out on the street with friends and family is a brilliant way of spending a summer’s day; and local fairs still carry that vibe where young and old can have fun together without sacrificing too much joy.
This year’s Stoke and Blockhouse Fun Day will host a dog show for the family pet (no pedigree certificate needed!); games and the like hosted by Stoke Damerel Community College and Stiltskin Arts for the young at heart; a great selection of craft stalls, food stalls, and activities to stroll around; information on local history from both the Naval Heritage Centre and the Box on Tour – and a chance to record your own memories of living in Stoke; and perhaps most importantly, not one but two stages for a continuous blast of great live music to suit all tastes (accompanied by a bar, and loads to eat and drink for everyone).
As another nod to the past, there will be a Lord Mayor’s Procession with a bunch of enthusiasts dancing along to the Main Stage (you’re welcome to join them), where they will be treated to a genuine Tea Dance, in memory of that unique spectacle of Dancing on the Hoe right in the middle of War Time.
Plymouth has been very good in the past at enjoying itself, and this year, not only will we have MTV on the Hoe for the younger music fans, but we will have multigenerational entertainment across parks throughout the city.
So, grab the kids, the dog, gran and grandad and a few of your neighbours, and come to St Levans Park on July 14 and the Blockhouse Park on July 21 to see what’s going on.
You’ll be pleased to know that most things will be held undercover (in the unlikely event of rain!)
