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 News
was phoned through last Wednesday afternoon as soon as the
result was announced: Lubenham didn't become Village of the
Year in 200I. But its efforts were well rewarded: our village
submission won first prize in the Central Area and we were
also top in the Business Section, Central Area. Well done
to all those citizens who helped prepare Lubenham's entry.
Here is an account by Diana Cook - written, of course, before
the final result was announced - of the process leading to
the presentation of awards by HRH Prince Charles in London.
Village of the Year - or Apologies ,from 'She who
must be obeyed'
Well Lubenham is the Central Region 'Village of the Yea? and
might even be National 'Village of the Year' Some people seem
surprised; most, if not all, are proud and delighted to have
reached this stage in a national competition.
But why? It's not a chocolate-box village - so how did we
do it?
As a Community Development Worker I am involved with many
different villages and many different projects. Each village
is unique and every village has something 'special'.
Seeing so many villages makes one realise what a lot Lubenham
has to offer that maybe we take for granted. So it came as
no surprise to me that The Rural Community Council Competitions
Committee wanted to nominate Lubenham as their entrant for
this prestigious Competition sponsored by The Daily Telegraph
and Calor Gas. I also knew that the competition is judged
not just on appearance but on how the community helps itself
and others. My only concern was that Lubenham might not agree
to enter or it might not have time to get the entry together
to meet the very short deadline.
So apologies to those people who only turned up to the first
meeting because they felt they should Obey My Command! (Would
that I had ever had that power anyway!) But I hope you are
glad you came - I certainly am!
Whatever brought people to that meeting, thank you - because
it was then that it was confirmed to me that the village was
worthy of nomination. At that first afternoon meeting 2I organisations
were represented, which showed everyone's commitment to take
part. Everyone was on board and ready to share their expertise.
Someone would shoot a video, people would get out their photos,
everyone would write a bit about their organisation which
would be put together to answer the questions on the entry
form.
We were in with a chance and we would give it our best shot!
Weeks of frantic work - phone calls - visits - drafting -
re-drafting - how could we condense six pages down to two
for the section on community life? - typing - copying - formatting
meeting - e-mailing - first the submission was prepared and
sent off with the required photos, then came the task of preparing
for the judges' visit but we didn't even know when that would
be.
Many offers of help came in. The video was prepared, the web
site advertised our progress, the display was organised, the
children at the school got to work to say why they like living
here and illustrated their writing. The community bus was
booked to take the judges on a tour, speakers were volunteered,
offered or press-ganged into doing their bit and technology
was prepared to enhance the presentations and displays.
We were pleased to see so many people at the run-through presented
to the village on the evening before judging and welcomed
the help they gave us in finalising the presentations which
were to be given to the judges.
Judging day came. The sun shone and the bells rang out to
welcome the judges. They arrived, but one was a little late
- which allowed the others a bit of tiine to view the displays
- and after a quick coffee they were dispatched on their tour.
The 20 or so of us left in the Village Hall got a little bit
concerned when they didn't arrive back at the appointed time;
where had they gone? Perhaps they had got lost or perhaps
they had called in at the pub after all we told them in the
submission what a friendly place it was!
They finally arrived back at the Village Hall and we were
able to tell them what goes on here and what a warm and friendly
community it is. We had only one minor hiccup and that was
when a computer program showing the Lubenham web page got
turned off and no one there was sure how to get the screen
back on! During the presentation the judges helped us immensely
by asking questions that we were able to answer; everyone
was joining in to answer. We have since heard that that impressed
the judges.
It didn't seem to matter that we all had different ideas about
the last question: what did we think was really special about
our village? The judges left and we relaxed - a bit- but somehow
we sensed that we might have to do it all again, so everything
was carefully stored away.
I was not totally surprised therefore to receive an e-mail
while I was on holiday telling me to be prepared to join the
team again for yet another presentation. I returned to fmd
everything in full swing: more rehearsals, more displays,
more technology. Again very little time to prepare and no
choice of dates.
It was useful to get some feedback from the regional judges;
they told us that we had done very well in all sections and
that the number of things that went on and the enthusiasm
we had shown for everything had impressed them - as well as
the coffee and sandwiches!. When asked how we might improve
our performance we were told, "Just do some more of what you
did and get those cows to smile at the judges again!" (Apparently
some cows had been keen to add their part to the presentation
and had leaned over the gate to get in on the act when the
judges did their tour.)
National judging day: 2Ist November
Fortunately, everyone managed to be present again for the
final presentation to the national judging team and we all
gave it our very best effort. Everyone was keenly aware that
we had only the next two hours to convince them that the big
prize (£5,000) should come to Lubenham. The judges arrived
on time and again went off on a tour, with their escort, around
the village while the rest of us waited nervously for their
return. Back in the hall we felt they were little distant
to start with but, after excellent cup of coffee and listening
to the presentation and questioning us, they were warm and
enthusiastic and complemented us on our timekeeping. (All
down to John, who really had to be obeyed!)
The judges seemed reluctant to leave and were interested in
the static displays and fascinated by the interactive displays
showing the web site - the Scarecrow Weekend and the videos
of the village and the church wall. No doubt all the people
who took part will tell their different stories of how the
judging went and will have different memories of the day.
Where did we get all the straw? How do the Lubenham Raiders
manage not to loose people on their cycle rides? Are we really
getting a new bell? Is Sarah Chairman of the Parish Council?
After the judges departed a ballot was taken to decide who
would go down to the presentation in London so John and Margaret
Martin will be off on Wednesday December 5th to collect our
regional prize of £I,000 and maybe ... well ... it could be
us?????????
Whatever the outcome, the whole village has done well. Without
the input from everyone and every organisation that has taken
place over the years and the continued support for all our
village activities we would not even have been nominated.
Diana Cook
November 2001
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