Wednesday 25 April 2012

DIAMOND JUBILEE APPROACHING FAST

Only a month now to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.   Doesn't seem five minutes since we were celebrating her Golden jubilee - and for those that did in Penkridge, we are all now 10 years older!
As Town Crier I attended several Street Parties back in 2002 - but so far have only been invited to one this time SO FAR!    And that is to one being held in Cherrybrook Drive.  I believe leaflets have been distributed around the estate and quite a few families have promised to attend.  It will be a Grand Picnic and residents on the estate are being asked to bring along their own food and "furniture" and Lisa White (who is organising it) is arranging for the area to be decorated and for music to be laid on (if we can find a local friendly and co-operative resident who will allow them to "plug in" to their electrics).  Lisa can be contacted on 713053 if you want to register your attendance and/or offer help.
AND THE PENKRIDGE TOWN CRIER will be attending for the opening of the Party and will be giving THE LOYAL CRY - which is being specially written for all Town Criers in the country to "cry out" in their communities.    See you on the 2nd June.
If you are organising or know of any others being held in Penkridge, please let me know and I will do my best to also attend yours.

Bevan Craddock (Penkridge Town Crier)

Sunday 22 April 2012

Penkridge loses three more citizens - but they will be remembered.

If you  have logged onto my Community Website recently (www.penkridge.org.uk), you will have seen my posting about the deaths recently of DAVID WYNN, PHIL GOLLINGS and FRED PERKS.  All three have been members of the Local History Group and all three have contributed to the books that the Group has published.   David contributed to our latest one (in it there is a photo of him flying solo at Halfpenny Green), Phil Gollings researched and wrote the History of St. Michael's School which includes some wonderful glimpses into village school life back in the very early days.   And Fred Perks also wrote two books about his life working on the Railways as an Engine Driver, much of it being in the age of the steam engine.   We have lost three good men and true, and with them we have lost an enormous amount of memories of Penkridge in the past.  But through the Local History Group and the publications they have written and contributed to, we have at least got much of their memories and experiences of life in Penkridge permanently recorded for future generations.

David Wynn's funeral has already passed, Phil Gollings is on Monday, 23 April, at 11.30am at St. Michael & All Angels Church and Fred Perks is to be held on Wednesday, 25 April, at 11am at Stafford Crematorium.