WEEKLY COLUMN of Fairford and Lechlade news by Chris Roberts

1. New Fairford Festival Committee announces theme and date for next year 

At the Annual General Meeting of Fairford Festival last week, a new Festival Committee was elected with Kerrie-Anne Payne continuing as Chair and Neil Plumridge as Vice Chair.

Kerrie-Anne explained to the new committee that with increased costs this year needed to deliver such a wide range of entertainment and activities for all ages in and around Fairford, there was very little profit made.

Although Fairford Festival is a non-profit making organisation, it does donate any money that is raised over and above paying all expenses to Fairford Town Charity to help local charities and good causes in Fairford. The Fairford Festival committee, therefore, agreed to make a donation of £500 to Fairford Town Charity.

If you belong to a club or organisation in Fairford that needs funding for a specific purpose or you are an individual that needs a little bit of financial help, then please contact Jan Cory at Fairford Town Charity on jancory1@yahoo.co.uk.

Fairford Festival’s 2024 donation will be presented to the Trustees of Fairford Town Charity on Thursday September 19 at the Sponsors’ Thank You Evening being held in the Pavilion at Fairford Cricket Club.

The Festival Committee is pleased to announce that next year’s Fairford Festival will be over the weekend of June 5-8 and the theme will be ‘Love’! Please put the date in your diaries!

If you would like to help plan the Fairford Festival for 2025 or help out over the Festival weekend, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Kerrie if you are interested on: kerrie@fairfordfestival.org.uk.

2. RAF Fairford celebrates 80th anniversary 

Last week, RAF Fairford opened its gates to invited guests to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the airbase.

As well as being well known for being the venue for the annual Royal International Air Tattoo, the base has a long and illustrious history serving British and American forces.

The base’s history began in January 1944 in preparation for D Day and took part in Operation Mallard. RAF Fairford was also involved in the major airborne assault operations on D-Day and Arnhem known as Operation Market Garden.

The original Red Arrows team worked at Fairford for its first display season and Concorde 002 landed at the base after its first flight from Filton. Afterwards, the base was used as a flight test centre for Concorde. The Space Shuttle Enterprise arrived at Fairford in May 1983 onboard a NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 747.

During the Gulf War, the base became active for Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and saw a massive US-led air offensive.

The 80th Anniversary Heritage Day saw a ground display of various vintage aircraft and vehicles, plus an exhibition of memorabilia about Concorde, Operation Market Garden, Greenham Common, USAF and NATO with further displays of old uniforms, photographs and artifacts.

3. Working 4 Wellbeing 

For the younger member of the community, the First Steps toddler group and family support hub is on every Friday in term time from 9.30am-11am in Fairford United Church, Milton Street.

Toys, crafts, singing and a snack for just £1 per family. W4W will also be present to offer signposting and support.

For the senior members of the community, there is a Senior Yoga Class on Mondays from 10.15am-11.15am in term time only at Fairford Community Centre. The sessions are taught by a professional Yoga instructor. Cost £3 per session. For more information about either of these events, please call Mary Ann on 07555.738138.

4. MacMillan coffee mornings 

The annual MacMillan Coffee Morning will take place on Friday September 27 from 10am-12.30pm at Fairford Bowling Club, East End. Grand raffle, delicious cakes, bric-a-brac, puzzles, books, plants. Cash only.

Helping people do whatever it takes to support those living with cancer. For more information, please contact 07516 632122.

5. Club in Lechlade open to males 

The Probus Club of Lechlade is open to all males, meeting in Lechlade Memorial Hall on the first and third Fridays of every month at 10am for 10.30am. Talks last up to an hour and the meeting is followed by a few drinks at the bar run by the Club’s members. The next meeting is on Friday September 20 and the talk is ‘Flying in the Andean Countries’ by Dacre Watson.

As well as being a natural border, the Andes in Peru, Bolivia and Chile forms significant barriers to development in these three countries. The talk is not a history of aviation, but an account on how these barriers were overcome by the imaginative use of aeroplanes.

6. Football club has new team 

Lechlade Youth Football Club have a new under 11s team (Year 6). Training is Mondays from 6pm-7pm with plenty of space available.

Please come along to training at Lechlade Memorial Hall field. Matches due to start soon. For more information, please call 07821 547582.

There’s still time to grab a bargain at the huge end of season sale on at Lechlade Charity Shop in Lechlade High Street from September 17-25.

Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. Everything priced at £1. Sale items will be clearly marked. Usual items will still be available.

The winners of the JPA Financial Planning Children’s Colouring Competition are: Joe (Pre-school age) aged 11½ months; Elliot Rao aged 7 and Matilda Rao aged 9. The winners received a book token each.