Richard Stevens

Last night we put the finishing touches to the Cycle Race plans when we met representatives of the three local cycle clubs. They will be providing up to fifty members as Marshalls for next weeks race and tonight we ran through all the final details.

They were all very excited and eager to see the cream of British cyclists racing around the circuit. It will be their job to marshall the whole course and to man the three crossing points. So it was important that they all understand their roles and duties.

David Turner, the Town Clerk, ran through a long checklist of items which only confirmed what a massive event this is going to be. Highways will start removing kerbs and barriers at the bottom of the High Street on Monday, the firm erecting the barriers will come into town on Tuesday and start preliminary work, the stage for the Jazz band will be built later this week and the whole town will be barriered off on Wednesday. Road Closure Orders, temporary event licences, notices to local shops and residents, sponsorship arrangements, advertising banners etc. etc. - I’m sure we’ve covered everything!

The Cycle Race is just over a week away and the last minute hiccups are being sorted out! There’s no point in panicking at this stage - so today we reviewed the position to date and made the final arrangements. We have another meeting tomorrow with the local cycle clubs who will be providing the Marshalls and then it’s all sysyems go!. I am really getting excited. I am now beginning to realise just how big this event is!

This evening we held not one but two sub committee meetings in the Town Council Chamber. I enjoy sub committees much more than the larger General Purposes Committe and the Town Council meetings. Sub committees attract the committed councillors who are interested in putting forward constructive ideas and getting involved on a practical level whereas the bigger meetings serve as an arena for the ’spoilers’ and ‘point scorers’ who simply try to create a sound bite for the press and do little or nothing between meetings. Tonight’s sub committees were good meetings but we’ll have to wait to see what happens when their recomendations come up for approval! 

I had a Victor Meldrew moment this morning!

A very succesful Stone Festival ended yesterday and today - lo and behold - Stafford Borough Council’s Streetscene department are starting to put up the hanging baskets!

Words fail me!

I knew yesterday was going to be special - but it exceeded all my expectations for a number of reasons!

Fantastic weather!

You’ve all read my proud boasts before that we’ve never had rain on a Farmers’ Market in Stone and it certainly didn’t rain yesterday! Blue skies and hot sunshine all day set the backdrop for a marvellous day!

Best Farmers’ Market ever!

Forty one stalls and a carnival atmosphere. Murphy’s Marbles playing in the square and the Carnival Parade passing around Christchurch Way on its way to Westbridge Park. No complaints from anyone - other than one trader who was moaning that he’d sold out and would have brought more stock had he known how good it was going to be!

Birthday specials!

And because it was my 65th birthday, I was allowed to have a day off the diet. So shortly after nine o’clock I was joined by Janet and several friends for a full fried English breakfast at an outside table at the Lounge. Two sausages, double bacon rashers, black pudding, hash browns, egg, tomato, mushrooms baked beans and fried bread - heaven!

And much to my embarrassment, later in the morning Kevin from Murphy’s Marbles called me over. I thought he wanted a quiet word about something but - no! - he immediately struck up with a round of “Happy Birthday” sung by everyone in the Market Square and the High Street. I think I blushed!

Successful end to Festival!

In the afternoon the Parade arrived in Westbridge Park to begin an afternoon of fun and frolics! And judging by the huge crowd it is obvious that holding the Farmers Market on the same day didn’t detract from the Festival’s success. In fact, it has been suggested the Market probably brought even more people into town.

Up, up and away!

And at four o’clock I joined Sue Mason for her sponsored helicopter ride. Sue had been inspired by my sponsored slim and had asked me to help her organise a sponsored helicopter ride. Sue has MS and had never flown due to her fear of flying. So we arranged sponsorship forms and today she did it! A wonderful trip with fantastic views over Stone raised over £350 for the Stone MS Society. Sue’s secret is safe with me, so when I am asked, the answer will always be ” She loved it”! She was very brave but I din’t think she’ll be repeating the experience! Fantastic, Sue - well done!

Party through the night!

So when it was all over it was back home, a quick shower and then - let the party begin! Yes, I seem to have a crowd of good friends who know how to enjoy themselves! Apologies to the neighbours! It was such a beautiful warm and calm night that we ended up on the patio until well into the small hours.

What a wonderful day!

Regular readers will remember that PC Andy Whitehall and his police colleagues organised a very succesful community litter pick at the beginning of the year. Well, it was so succesful that there have been numerous requests for another . So here’s advance notice that the next litter pick will take place on Saturday 21st June. Meet in Market Square at 10.00 a.m.

If the last event is anything to go by, there’ll be dozens of folk turning out. Come along and spend an hour or so tidying up the town. Everything is provided but don’t wear your Sunday best!

I’ve just written the post about Titanic buying the Royal Exchange pub but the equally good news is that Titanic are seriously considering becoming involved as a major sponsor of this year’s Food and Drink Festival! We’ve already booked Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, to come to Stone to give some tutored beer samplings so Titanic’s involvement will be the icing on the cake!

We’ve still got to iron out a few details but I’m confident that the name “Titanic” is going to become a well recognised feature of this year’s Festival. Being Chairman of the Festival is a hard job but somebody has to do it! And I don’t complain, either!