Events
2021
Despite all the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, we had a very active year culminating in another beautiful Christmas Tree Festival. Although we were not able to serve food, generous donations and sponsorship amounted to more than £900.
Carol singing around the village where many houses were beautifully decorated with lights, and the Carol Service which closed the festival helped to remind us of the central and essential part that St Andrew’s plays in Harberton.
Carole’s Cards, Coffee and Cake – 25 September
Once again Carole Oldfield kindly opened her delightful studio selling her beautiful cards and prints. It was well attended (raising just under £400) and a pleasure to welcome several villagers who have recently moved into our lovely village!
A joyful celebration of Church, Clock and Chimes – 4 September
This event brought over 70 of us together to celebrate our beautiful and improved church clock. We enjoyed each other’s company, the clever and varied home-made canapeĢs, the most enjoyable wine and soft drinks and the beautifully decorated and tasty clock cake.
Annie and Alex Williams made us so welcome in their lovely garden, Matt (White, son of Mary and David White, who gave the legacy that allowed for these clock improvements) gave a moving speech and Alicia, one of our churchwardens, a heart-warming speech based around a note sent to her from a villager about how important the clock and its bells were for her sense of community and belonging.
A great raffle, donations and bar takings meant that all the costs were covered, including having the bells rung and producing a new leaflet about the clock’s history. Click here to see it or help yourself to a copy of this informative leaflet in the church. The takings also allowed for a small contribution to HCCF and church running costs.
Massive thanks to the very many people who helped make this a special event - whether you were organisers, cooks, bar staff, speakers, photographers, general runners or guests.
Jonathan Bean has made a delightful short video of the clock, its working and the view from the tower -
Open Gardens and Craft Fair – 31 July & 1 August
Wow - what a treat to get out again, enjoy the company of others in the great outdoors, admire (and buy) wonderful crafts made by our super-talented neighbours, and indulge ourselves in fourteen utterly different and uniquely beguiling gardens. There was more variety in and between the gardens than ever before – as our village gradually becomes a safer haven for wildlife. Which is not only great for wildlife but also brings each of us such pleasure. We value the emphasis on this that Sustainable Harbourne Valley encouraged this year.
Overall, the surplus created for the Harberton Church Community Fund was just shy of £3,000 – which is more than double the outcome of either of the first two events in 2018 and 2019. We would like to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who allowed their garden to be in the mix, to every craftsperson who took a stall, and to every one of the many people ‘behind the scenes’ who worked so hard over many months in preparing, cajoling, washing up, weeding, potting, creating, baking and just being friendly – the feedback from our many visitors has been fantastic.