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The sixth Wiv Chat recording is something slightly different. Having had a historical approach to the previous recordings, my conversation with Marika Footring looks ahead to the first staging of a new event in the Wivenhoe calendar - the St Mary’s Church Ale.

Chin chin.

There is still a fascinating historical story here. We talk about the origins of the Church Ale and how they emerged during Mediaeval times as a means to help bond the community together. There really couldn’t be a more suited location to resurrect the Church Ale than Wivenhoe.

As Marika explains during our recording, Ales took the form of many different guises during Medieval times:

“The Church Ale, held to encourage parishioners to come and pay their tithes and so to help pay for the upkeep of the church building; the Bride Ale, benefited a newly married couple; the Clerk Ale, to support the impoverished curate.”

But it’s not all about the booze. First off here are the basics:

The St Mary’s Church Ale will take place over the weekend of 17th and 18th September. Essentially it is a celebration of the community involving a grand procession, traditional crafts and… ale. The event is free to attend, with any money raised being used to help maintain the upkeep of St Mary’s.

We talk about the events planned for the Church Ale during our chat. Mr Mayor will lead a Medieval procession from the KGV down to St Mary’s. A costume competition is in place for the kids, and traditional crafts such as rope making will be available to experience.

Oh - and there will be beer, very kindly brewed from the local Sticklegs Brewery at Elmstead Market.

I found the conversation fascinating - Marika has clearly put a tremendous amount of planning and time into the resurrecting the Church Ale. Hopefully the recording can also act as a rallying call - as ever, volunteers are always needed.

A Church Ale open planning meeting has been called for the evening of 24th July, taking place at 7pm in the Black Buoy. Anyone with an interest in the event is urged to attend.

Radio Wivenhoe meanwhile has just completed the end of a highly successful first week of broadcasting. The range of shows has been as diverse as one would expect from Wivenhoe. We’re far from a slick operation - we recognise that. The idea is very much to start with realistic ambitions and see where the project takes us.

Next up on my Wiv Chat schedule is an interview planned with Jon Wiseman, the Wivenhoe Town Cricket Club historian extraordinaire. With Jon’s The Story of Wivenhoe Cricket book about to be published during Cricket Week at Rectory Road, this will be a timely recording.

I’m working my way through my hit list of local folk to chat with. Please do volunteer yourself - or others - if you would like to take part in this project.

I knew that I had hit hyperlocal oral history gold when I first heard about the possibility of talking with Victor Williamson. Vic is a very proud, dignified member of the local Wivenhoe community.

He has a tremendous history associated with Wivenhoe Town Football Club throughout the 60′s and 70′s. He is also very humble, and so his story isn’t out there perhaps as much as it deserves to be.

How then to approach a recorded interview with a gentleman who has so many stories to tell, yet maybe wants to be rightfully guarded about his fine achievements within the town?

I needn’t have worried. We sat down, pressed the record button and then took if from there. It turns out that there was a completely different story also to explore, going back to wartime Wivenhoe and the tale of an evacuee from the East End of London.

I wasn’t expecting this, and so just went with the flow and allowed Vic to explain his own tale. We hear about the fourteen year-old Bethnal Green boy arriving in Fingringhoe, a distaste for country dancing at the KGV (!) and then after two decades back in London, Vic ends up back in North Essex for another four decades.

This is where the real value in Vic’s Wivenhoe story starts to be told. He was promoted almost by default to the role of Chairman of Wivenhoe Town Football Club. Despite offering to take on this job for a couple of weeks, twenty years later and he was still working behind the scenes during perhaps the most successful era in the history of the Dragons.

Vic explains during our chat about how the move to Broad Lane came about, and how this coincided with an all-conquering team on the pitch that rose up the non-league pyramid ladder.

There is a hint of sadness at the end of our conversation, with Vic explaining how “no one knows him” now. Times change and people move on, but I really hope that there is still a place for Vic at Wivenhoe Town FC. A certificate awarded to him by the Essex FA in recognition of his fine achievements is still on display in the clubhouse at Broad Lane.

Many, many thanks to Vic for also allowing me to publish the private photos below, appearing I believe for the first time in public. It is fascinating how little has changed up at Broad Lane, yet equally everything *has* changed.

The gates to the ground remain the same now as they were when Dave Poore, Vic Williamson, Ian Saunders and Bill (Jock) Hill posed for the picture ahead of the opening.

It strikes me that Broad Lane Future could do with the energy and commitment that Vic devoted to the Dragons to help the club through the next successful stage of transition.

It’s quite some story Vic - many, many thanks for sharing.

The summer season of films has just been released by Moving Image, the independent community cinema group in Wivenhoe. Five screenings in total will take place, covering cricket, social media and a small town coming of age flick.

Which is more or less my life story.

The Social Network (ACE) The Secret in their Eyes, Life in a Day, The Last Picture Show and Fire in Babylon make up the schedule. The first four films are being screened at the Philip Road *cough* Multiplex.

Fire in Babylon, the documentary about the Windies team of the 70′s and 80′s, is being shown rather appropriately at Rectory Road as part of the Wivenhoe Town Cricket Club cricket festival.

Once again Moving Image is showing great initiative in extending the screenings out into the community. The Philip Road Centre, The Lakeside, the KGV, The Station pub - Wivenhoe seems to have become a network of pop up cinemas overnight.

The Philip Road Centre remains the flagship location (stop sniggering…) Dave Gladden and Amanda Smith have recently put in place some heavyweight lightproof curtains to help with the black out. Rick Cawley has been sourcing a new sound system as well.

Following these summer screenings, Moving Image is taking a short break until September. This has been a fantastic first year for the vision of an independent community cinema in Wivenhoe. As ever, volunteers are always needed…

You can download a copy of the July poster to display around the town over here.

Never one to shy away from showcasing our local Wivenhoe talent and characters: it’s only Barnwell Bear.

Blimey!

With a huge heads up to Moira to for very kindly supplying these photographs (which I believe have already been published in the brilliant Wivenhoe News?) - here we have everyone’s favourite local independent toyshop mascot in his many different disguises.

Watching Barnwell change his wardrobe as the autumnal weeks of my first arrival in Wivenhoe soon became a snowy winter, was one of the highlights each morning as I cycled down towards the foot of the town.

It was a blog post waiting to happen - not to mention a don’t forget yer camera moment each morning, something which I never quite got organised enough to put in place.

A casual tweet (oh yes) and my inbox became full of Barnwell Bears.

Brilliant.

I’ve no idea where the name comes from, but I suspect Barnwell has some hyerlocal historical significance. I personally think that he bears (geddin there) an uncanny resemblance to a certain Wivenhoe Town Councillor…

Everyone has to have his or her favourite Barnwell look - mine is the bird watching estuary gent. I’ve heard pub talk of Barnwell appearing in full S & M gear around Valentine’s Day. The special safety word is probably Goldilocks.

Now would be apt timing to remind folk of the Wivenhoe Teddy Bear’s Picnic, taking place on the afternoon of 31st July at the KGV. Dubbed Mini-May Fair, here’s hoping that as much excitement is evident for the ankle biters as was experienced by their big brothers and sisters last month.

Plus a quick plug for Barnwell’s new neighbour, the delightful Divine Intervintage, located just across the alley from Jack in the Box. Selling a line of classic, retro and vintage clothes, I wish the new Wivenhoe business venture well.

Maybe Barnwell could be kitted out in a costume from next door? Cross dressing cuddly toys is just *sooo* Wivenhoe, dahhhling…

Putting on my best Simon Cowell evil smirk, and pulling up my trousers so that they rest just underneath my armpits - it’s time for another blog post of Wivenhoe’s Got Talent.

Blimey.

I’ve blogged before about the brilliant singer / songwriter talent of local lad Lou Terry. The young chap’s appearance at the May Fair, and a possible set at the Colchester Free Festival are testimony to my hyperlocal entertainment empire building ambitions.

I like to think in a few years time, Lou will be on MTV - or whatever online platform fits the purpose of the time - with a video shot by Wivenhoe local Sam King.

Yep: Introducing Sam King…

I first came across the talented local filmmaker whilst out on a reccie one Friday night at the Sailing Club. @AnnaJCowen and I were doing the meet ‘n greet, and hopefully sweet talking our way into Sailing Club membership.

By pure chance there was a screening by the banks of the Colne from Sam, showcasing a series of local films that he has shot. The Sailing Club video featured below was introduced as an attempt to try and capture the essence of Wivenhoe sailing.

Mission successful, I would say.

I wanted to hang around for a chat with Sam, find out his local story and then bend his arm about being able to embed some of his fine films on m’blog. The meet ‘n greet (and booze) of the Sailing Club got in the way.

No worries - back at base this week and my twitter stream struck gold with a tweet from @SamKing13245 linking to a local video made all about the May Fair this year.

I told you this Wivenhoe twitterati lark is starting to help make local connections…

Tweets were exchanged, and Sam has very kindly agreed to allow me to showcase some of his work on m’blog. The May Fair film in particular is a rare beast of local cinematic beauty. It is shot with a professional eye, and contains sufficient local knowledge to show an understanding of his subject matter.

Much has been made of the May Fair this year by folk who aren’t really local and should know better. @TheGazette continues to abuse this position of supposed local power, completely overlooking the good news story of the £4,500 raised for charity, and getting turned on instead by the minor, minor scuffles.

Sam instead chooses to look at the community volunteer element to May Fair, He presents a short film that encapsulates to perfection the spirit of May Fair that I found down at the KGV a couple of weeks ago.

If any local organisation is in need of some video work, then I would strongly recommend working with Sam. His work is highly professional, with a local passion to match.

I know that Moving Image has floated the idea of helping to showcase local filmmakers, by perhaps screening some hyperlocal shorts ahead of the main presentations. Sam would seem to fit this suggestion perfectly.

You can subscribe to Sam’s youtube channel over here, or follow him on twitter @SamKing13245. Even better - contact the young chap and see how he can help to bring to life any work that your group or organisation is trying to promote around the town.

So that’s the local singer / songwriter and the filmmaker taken care of. Any young local folk out there care to teach me how to dance?

A public statement from the Wivenhoe May Fair Committee:

This year’s Wivenhoe May Fair, the 29 year old free music and arts event raised over £4,500 for charity. This brings the total raised for good causes since 2000 to nearly £35,000.

Over 25 bands and artists played during the day (30 May, 2011), the cycle-powered cinema showcased local talent, children were entertained and shopaholics made full use of the colourful and eclectic stalls.

As a result of bucket rattling by the May Fairies and volunteer stewards, the following ten charities will each receive a donation:

EACHSA

Re-Cycle

The Russ Foundation

East Anglian Children’s Hospice

Colchester Citizens Advice Bureau

Colchester Womens’ Refuge

Colchester Night Shelter

Transition Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe Helping Hands

Wivenhoe Ferry Trust

As in previous years the community-based festival was staged on the King George V Playing Field in the centre of the town. Unfortunately the 2011 festival was not as quiet as usual with some 40 trouble-makers scuffling towards the end of the day near to the skate park. They were also surrounded by a large number of young onlookers who were not directly involved. Fortunately only a few minor injuries resulted from the incident, which were treated on-site.

The May Fair committee utterly deplores violence and has openly apologised to anyone who was affected by the unexpected element who were in the area with the clear intention of causing trouble. The committee will now focus on working with the authorities and community groups to instigate workable changes that prevent the trouble-making minority from spoiling the event for the peaceful majority while keeping the May Fair’s ethos intact.

Mike Freeman, May Fair Coordinator said:

“The organisers of the Wivenhoe May Fair would like to thank the peaceful festival goers of all ages who attended this year’s music and arts event and who helped to raise over £4,500 for charity. We were treated to a fantastic line-up of entertainment and the sun gods shone on us. See you in 2012!”

What we have here is a potted oral history of Queen’s Road. Many, many thanks to Daryl for very kindly inviting me into his family home and putting himself forward for the recording.

This came about after some online dialogue with the good folk of the Queens Road Residents Association. It became clear that the road closure is far from the only issue that is involved here - Queens Road has a rich sense of history flowing from the top, down to the dip, and then back up towards Anglesea Road.

It is this hyperlocal historical observation that fascinates me. We couldn’t cover all of the stories and tales from one of Wivenhoe’s most historic streets during our short chat, but at least it is a start.

A start for what, I hear you say?

Well…

I put together a similar online oral history project back in South London a few summers ago. Sadly, for various organisational and *cough* political reasons, we never really got going.

I am very keen to continue with something along these lines in Wivenhoe. Oral history is a form of storytelling that fascinates me. I believe that documenting and archiving this conversation online is the perfect combination.

I am very interested in speaking with anyone in Wivenhoe who would like to offer up any story or life experience to share. It needn’t be strictly street focussed, as is the case with this first recording; it may simply be memories of living and growing up in the town.

Age is not important - I am as equally interested in new Wivenhoe folk as I am in some of the more mature members of our community. The process of collating and documenting this work digitally is something which I think has great value.

The excellent Sea Change is comprehensive, and in no way would I want to replicate this work. The technology now however is so simple and fast, that I can record the conversation with my iPhone and then pretty much publish and archive instantly.

As anyone who has spoken with me around the town as part of an audio recording will know, I always offer up the right of deletion at the end of our conversations, should something crop up that you might not feel comfortable in sharing.

Without wanting to put too much of a downer upon this - we’re all getting old; these stories need preserving. Capturing and archiving them online makes for the perfect working combination.

With the help of Daryl and the QRRA, I’m hopefully lining up interviews very soon with a chap who helped to set up Wivenhoe Town Football Club, as well as a gentleman who can remember the opening of the KGV back in 1938.

Please, please do contact me if you would like to be part of this project, or if you know of any other locals that you think would be interested in taking part.

Thanks again to Daryl and the QRRA - hopefully by opening up this information, some of the suspicion and questions about the road closure will become more open and transparent.

Time to clear up a little bit of the mess left over from May Fair - first with the very practical clean up of the KGV, and then to clean up some of the fallout that has followed.

I returned to the site early on Tuesday morning to lend a hand with the great clean up. It was good to see a dedicated local team of volunteers, all doing the litter picking thing. Wivenhoe Town Council had bin bag representation as well. Fine work, Sir.

What followed was a sweep of the site - not in the same *ahem* style that the police swept the KGV the afternoon before if some of the sensationalist reporting from our friends @The Gazette are to be believed - but a sweep of all the bottle tops, fag ends and dog water bowls.

Blimey.

For all the sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, the most exciting item I found was a hand written recipe for home made soup. University of Essex playing cards (eh?) appeared all over the place, usually torn to shred and scattered over the green and pleasant land as some form of academic confetti.

Future leaders, I tell you. Future leaders…

A mid-morning coffee break with the other KGV scavengers, and I stood to attention on hearing how Viagra had been found somewhere close to the Sunrise Stage. That’s about as rock ‘n roll as the May Fair gets, Comrades.

For all the pre-May Fair publicity of being glass free, the most time consuming part of Tuesday morning was picking out of the ground the blitz of beer bottle tops.

A midday working commitment was calling for me, and so I couldn’t put in the hours of volunteer dedication displayed by others. A return to the site early evening, and it appears that the KGV has actually been left in a cleaner condition than when it was handed over at the start of the May Fair weekend.

Fantastic work - a huge credit to the May Fair Committee.

Ah, but what of the other clean up, I hear you ask…

Well - let’s clear up some of the rumours and fall out that has followed from May Fair.

Depending on who you speak to, what you read and which pub you drink in, Wivenhoe was either besieged by an angry mob intent on rioting and having a running battle with the police over the weekend, or a little local difficulty followed when some kids who couldn’t take their lager shandies got lost in the wood whilst out on a teddy bear’s picnic.

The truth, as ever, lies somewhere in-between. I have approached the May Fair Committee for an official clarification, and to their credit, this is being prepared, once the full facts emerge.

What I do understand however is that two main trouble spots flared over the weekend. The Wivenhoe Forum is proving to be a very useful place for local dialogue and to look for future ways forward for the May Fair.

Here’s what I posted in relation to the May Fair flash points:

“I’ve been speaking with a number of sources around the town that I trust. My understanding is that apart from the wonderful music, the fantastic weather and the general community feel towards the top of the field, two separate situations developed.

A number of very young kids got very drunk in the Wood. This was out of sight of security, and come 4-5pm, it all got very messy. Safety concerns were an issue - some of these kids were out of it on booze. The police took the decision to move in to the woods so that any of the kids in trouble could be seen to.

I have been told that Sgt Lou Middleton played a very key and sympathetic role here, putting in place a policy of community policing of the very highest order. No arrests were made because the ‘offence’ was being young, being drunk and being silly. We’ve all done that. Instead, phone calls were made to parents and harsh words were spoken. Giving young local kids a police record is not a great start in life.

The second situation was not May Fair related, but took place outside of the town. Two Colchester gangs had pre-arranged to meet. This was nothing to do with the May Fair, and I believe that the police have confirmed as much to the May Fair organisers. It is the equivalent of football thugs pre-arranging a knock about outside football grounds.

Sadly the police helicopter was required, seeing as though the trouble was taking place around the town. The effect of this was to amplify the sense of danger or trouble. You could be sitting at home up towards the Cross and hear a police helicopter buzzing over and thinking that it was all May Fair related.”

Reporting in @The Gazette led with the problems, rather than focus on the success story of May Fair:

“Officers in riot gear, police dog handlers and the force helicopter were called to Wivenhoe May Fair when trouble erupted at the event.

Police say hundreds of youths drinking near to the even began causing problems at around 5pm. Police say order was soon restored, but that three people were arrested.”

Tell It Like It Is, but leave out the charity effort, the community led organising and the vast majority of May Fair folk that went away smiling.

What follows online is a slightly random debate as readers of @The Gazette take issue with the reporting, as well as some locals voicing concern about the policing for this year. I personally prefer the useful discussion over on the Wivenhoe Forum and ideas for the way forward.

And so hopefully Wivenhoe has come clean. The KGV has been handed back as a functioning public space, and some useful dialogue is taking place between the organisers and the community about the way forward.

It is right to be patient to hear from the police and the report that is currently being prepared - likewise with the official response from the May Fair Committee.

It’s good to come clean.

May Fair 2011 - how was it for you? The music, the conversations and the friendships made it fantastic for me. The police sirens late in the day did put a bit of a downer on the experience. A brief trawl through twitter - that ever reliable and factual source of information - shows that *most* folk at May Fair 2011 came away with sunburns and smiles.

Everyone will have their own unique May Fair stories and experiences. You can’t capture the essence of May Fair in a throwaway blog post - you probably wouldn’t want to either.

May Fair for me was very special. My experiences of the afternoon are unique to me, and this blog post is primarily for my purposes, to capture, document and remember what was something of a rather special afternoon.

Along with @AnnaJCowen and the pneumatic recovering house guest, I came close to being up the wotsit creek without a paddle. We were keen to show the pneumatic recovering house guest the delights of the Rowhedge Ferry. Time and tide wait for no May Fair man. Swimming to the KGV almost became a possibility.

Midday tea in the Rowhedge Heritage Hut was when we first heard the chords strike up across the Colne. Time to board the Ferry back to base, time to join the queue of twenty, thirty, forty ferry passengers, all with the same idea.

Whoops.

The good skipper had the foresight to make short shuttle runs across to Ferry Marsh. But with the water fast disappearing, the roundabout route back to the Quay was required.

We did the mental maths and worked out that we may just make the final sail before the ferry became stranded. The boat had become something of a booze cruise, with Rowhedge folk crossing the Colne with boxes of beer.

Anything to declare, Sir? We really should tax that other lot once they land in Wivenhoe.

Back on dry land and we snaked our way around the station, over the foot bridge and towards the KGV and beyond. By 1pm and it was clear that May Fair 2011 was simply MASSIVE.

We missed local lad Lou Terry up on the Sunrise Stage, such was the effort involved to walk from one end of the KGV to the other. An age demographic was clearly in place - fresh-faced yoof were down towards the rear of the field, with the more mature crowd camping out at the top. I have no shame in stating that I was two thirds up, with a preference to continue the ageing process.

Conversations followed - an ever present smiling Mr Mayor and the Lady Mayor, as well as two separate catch ups with middle aged men whom I usually associate with my semi-naked experiences every morning in a steam room out towards the Hythe.

Hot pants appeared to be the May Fair fashion accessory for this spring. I don’t think I’ve got the legs to carry it off, but then again I would also struggle with the balding Goth look, another fashion favourite for 2011.

Transition Town Wivenhoe, Wivenhoe in Bloom, Moving Image - all the great and good of local groups were out in force. The pneumatic recovering house guest came close to a cure in the Healing Field. I pitched in with a rather random and unexpected offer for work with a local organisation.

I’m not sure what happened to the Main Stage running order, but we took up a strategic position towards the right, just in time to catch the ace @AdyJohnsonUK. A shortened set from Colchester’s finest, but one that seemed perfect for the occasion.

Pink Flamingo peaked as MY May Fair moment. Only a couple of months earlier I had been privileged to catch Ady singing a short secret set @15QueenStreet. Seeing the songs from the Worry Doll album being transferred to the Wivenhoe May Fair, and still working with all the intimacy from earlier, had to be a highlight.

The pneumatic recovering house guest had to head back to the big city, and so our May Fair was cut short around 5pm. We walked back down towards the train station, seeing Wivenhoe Wood become a temporary toilet for the afternoon. Not great but hey - at least the greenery got a well needed watering.

The first police sirens started soon after, and then whilst back at base catching the close of play at the cricket, the helicopter action started. I didn’t personally witness anything, and so I’m not going to let it get in the way of MY May Fair 2011.

However if I were in the HEADLINE act, CAV OK, I’d be pretty peeved to be told at the last minute that the set has been cancelled.

Seeing this rather fine chap below wave us a Wivenhoe farewell is the memory that I would like to leave with.

*Heads up Mr Mule

Full flickr set over here.

To @15QueenStreet in Sunny Colch on Thursday evening for the Creative in Colchester meet up for May. I dislike deserting Wivenhoe once a month, especially so with Thursday night being something of a social high spot around these parts.

Apologies once again to poetrywivenhoe and the Funny Farm. Future dates are in my diary and if I ever feel the need to substitute my Sunny Colch socials with either Wivenhoe prose or punch lines, then I promise to make an appearance.

My social membership @15QueenStreet has become a working one of late. A bit of business upstairs first with the fine company of Bruce Burgoyne, and then it was back down to the serious business of booze.

As I’ve blogged before, I think that the perfect pace is now in place for these monthly gatherings for any folk with an interest in creativity. The wall-to-wall chundering [that we don't really talk about...] is now subdued into a social sandwich.

The filling either side of the alcohol intoxication this month was a couple of talks from local artists. @AndyWinmill explained more about his theatrical and production business, whilst Jamie Moakes came clean with a Colchester confessional.

Cripes.

Mr Winmill is the man behind much of the madness that you might be experiencing at the KGV this weekend when the May Fair brings peace, love and misunderstanding to Wivenhoe. Trained as a theatrical actor, Andy has progressed to producing both theatre and live music.

He spoke with passion about a new project he is currently putting in place involving setting up a Colchester based theatrical company. Much like the vision that @WillRevWright enthused about last month, the idea is for the whole company to have Colchester connections.

Mr Moakes meanwhile left the entire room, himself included, scratching their heads and giving back a cheeky wink in recognition of the mischief that the naughty, naughty young man is currently creating.

I’ve come across Jamie before on m’blog as part of the Ram Man project. He also runs his own Talent Agency, @HESAIDTalent, successfully sourcing bookings for various live art performances and contributors.

The talent roster is extensive as it is fictional. I’ve been given the nod and wink to blog about this: HE SAID Talent has no talent, apart from Mr Moakes himself. He has been fooling producers for a number of years, which to be fair, is probably the right thing that one should do.

What followed @15QueenStreet was something of an existential conversation where Jamie tried to explain himself, with the audience asking more questions that probed the inner working of the Puck like mind of the performance artist.

“He’s a North Essex Tony Clifton,” as @AnnaJCowen commented to me as I tried to understand the merry dance that Mr Moakes has been guiding us through of late. As ever the girl has good judgement, and Colchester is all the better for having the tease that is HE SAID Talent.

Apparently Bowie is on the books and is booked in for blah blah blah…

Definitely booked in to play the *ahem* main arena of @15QueenStreet, and making a spectacular sound that shook the windows was the three-piece Agitpunk-skiffle flamenco rock of Animal Noise.

The Colchester based band reminded us throughout their short set that they were playing a mellowed down acoustic performance to fit the laid back occasion. I’d hate to see these boys when they are angry then.

Finger picking flamenco, a tight bass and a backbeat that made me want to take up playing the drums - Animal Noise are playing live this weekend at the Love Stock festival being staged at the Minories gallery.

The comedown came from @cantcutcarwyn, Colchester’s finest mixer of all things soulful and sweet. A little samba was thrown into the set for the evening.

The excitement was all too much for a young Colchester groupie lady, who wandered past @15QueenStreet and was inspired to show us her sweater meat as the samba beats carried through the Colchester night. I made a mental note to start my own vinyl samba collection the very next morning.

Speaking of shameful acts, I had the front to finish off the very last bottle of booze for the evening, before boarding the 11:07 back to Wivenhoe.

I’ve got a month to recover, before the first birthday party of @15QueenStreet is staged next month. It may seem strange to celebrate the birthday of a building, but it is much more about how the physical shared working space has enabled many to connect creatively within Colchester.

The message continues to spread - it was great to see the good @zemblamatic coming along this month. More members, both resident and flexi are always encouraged.

My creative vision is to bring both poetrywivenhoe and the FunnyFarm over to @15QueenStreet for one Thursday evening only. My suspicion is that @HESAIDTalent is probably behind two of Wivenhoe’s leading artistic events. He was probably behind the angel cake dance by the samba groupie as well.

*I* said talent, etc…