Councillor Mark Green, our new Town Mayor, led the Parade from Stonefield Park through town to St. Michaels Church where he read one of the lessons. It was only later that I discovered that he’ d forgotten his reading glasses and had recited the reading mostly from memory! Well done, Mr. Mayor!

Our Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Jill Hood, had also managed to be in two places at once! Deputising for Mark, she’d officially started the 10K road race down at St.Michael’s First School and then dashed back into town to join the Parade at the top of the High Street. I’m sure she’d modestly say that, as Administrator of the Food and Drink Festival,  she’s used to multi-tasking!

So I can tell you that yesterday I walked seven and a half miles! Impressed? Well I have to admit it was not a typical day -  a litter pick in the morning, a crown green bowling competition in the evening and a walk to  the Station for a party at night. No wonder I’m feeling shattered this morning! 

I was part of a team that first did the top half of the Priory Estate and then went over to the Ministry estate. I am delighted to report that most areas are looking very neat and tidy - the blackspots appear to be alleyways and footpaths off the beaten track.

In total, I think the morning’s work filled about fifty bags so it was all worth while. And afterwards some rather damp and cold ‘pickers’ were treated to a complimetary hot drink by Custodio in the Lounge. Thanks, Cus - I needed that! And well done Andy - again!

The Ladies section of Stone British Legion put on a town centre event to coincide with Ladies Day at Ascot. So there was a window dressing competition, a best hat competition, a tombola and, tonight, I understand a Duck Race was to be held at the Star.

And under the marquee Tony Panter had rigged up a very large TV set so that ‘the punters’ could watch the race itself. A great idea and one, I’m sure, that will be repeated.

As I have said here on several occasions, this race was a Town Council sponsored and organised event. We’ve never done anything on this scale before so it was important that we got it right. The cycling side was looked after by Steve Douce from Barlaston who did a brilliant job in attracting the country’s top sixty professional riders to enter the race. But the really hard bit, putting the show together , was carried out by our Town Clerk, David Turner and a small sub-committee chaired by Jill Hood. And all the hard work paid off last night!

Despite the poor weather four thousand spectators saw a truly thrilling race. I know nothing about cycling but for one and a quarter hours I was totally enthralled by the speed and skill of the riders. And to see the winner, Malcolm Elliot aged over forty, win by a margin of almost a minute was awesome!

The town looked fantastic - barrriers around the entire route and a temporary bandstand in Granville Square. And after the event everyone was saying the same thing - “we must do it again next year”. I think we’ve done it again! We’ve put Stone on the map!

Important issues arising? Well, Councillor Philip Jones made the astonishing announcement that he’d heard “from an impeccable source” that Roseneath was to be demolished “within days”. This came like a bolt from the blue to everyone present. The County Council has always maintained that whilst the residential home itself was to be closed down, the building itself would always be retained for the provision of other services. My understanding is that planning permission would be required before any building could be demolished - we have seen one for Roseneath yet. It was agreed that our Town Clerk makes urgent enquiries an reports back.

Other decisions included agreement to make a grant of £250 to Stone Ramblers to help with the production of a book of local walks; agreement to object to British Telecom plans to remove the telephone kiosk in Marlborough Road and confirmation that the Town Council is willing to host the final Hotspot Sprint of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race on September 10th when the tour passes through Stone on its Worcester to Hanley leg.

And so to the pub for an early debriefing meeting!

Many months ago I was asked if I would be willing to give a talk about Stone Food and Drink Festival to the Barlaston branch of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice charity. I immediately accepted. I don’t need to be asked twice to talk to anybody about our Food and Drink Festival! And the added bonus was that it was in Barlaston where I spent a very enjoyable time as a young man in my teens and twenties - Barlaston in the swinging sixties was a good place to be!

And so it was that at lunchtime I ate lunch in a large marquee surrounded by so many familiar faces. And then ’singing for my supper’ by talking about the Festival. It seemed to go down all right and if I was able to persuade a few of them to come down to Stone in October then it was all worth while.

No one had been on the boat before so there was immediatley a novelty value and when the meal was served everyone was so impressed. Good weather, good food, good wine and good company - all the ingredients for a perfect day!

We had almost a dozen Stone guests on board who had heard of Brindleys but never been on it before. Without exception, they all bemoaned the fact that they had ignored what was on the doorstep and that they will certainly be booking trips in future!

Thanks to Geof, Heather, Richard, Taggy and Chloe for a great trip.

Paul really has been hard at work! He has recruited several chefs to give demonstrations and has also come up with some very interesting and novel ideas for demonstrations over the three day Festival.

I can’t disclose too many details until we have ‘dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s’ but I hope the Festival website will be up and running in the next few weeks where you’ll be able to see the programme.

In the meantime, make sure you are in Stone from October 3rd to the 5th!