Introduction to GMK
And there it was – gone! No Indian Summer for us this year. As I write this at the start of October, it seems that the nights are cold and dark already and the spiders have marched in to take up residence for the winter. I always feel that the Council starting up again in September is rather like the new school year – we are all getting our bearings again and trying to remember what we’ve done and what we’ve promised to do.
There is no doubt that it has been a wonderful year for Gnosall. The tireless BKV group bagged another success, this time as the Best Kept Large Village and also as the Best Kept Village in the whole of Staffordshire. This is a remarkable success, establishing quite a winning streak, but one which is never taken for granted. The amount of hard work which goes into achieving, and maintaining, this high standard cannot be over-estimated and we all owe a debt of gratitude to the team of volunteers who put in so much effort to make our village look so welcoming and fresh.
Another event which needs much work behind the scenes is GFest and that was also a great success, together with the CFest which took place for the first time this year. More details appear elsewhere in this edition but I would like to thank all who helped to make this amazing event another success. GFest profits are returned to the local community in the form of donations to support local groups in need of a boost, so this is a really home-grown affair, showcasing local talent, organised by local residents for the benefit of local groups.
Our Annual Gnosall Community Awards, along with the Derek Watson Jones Award, give parishioners an opportunity to nominate community groups or individuals who have added to the life of the village by going above and beyond. I really love this evening and this year was no exception. Whether they win or not, I know that all those nominated really appreciate their effort being recognised and it’s very humbling to hear of all that is being done, quietly and without fuss, week in and week out, by selfless, community-minded people.
Now we are starting to plan for our Christmas Lights Event, another popular evening which gives pleasure to so many and another favourite of mine, and of course the next Senior Citizens’ Tea. It’s things like this that make the village such a great place to live.
This year the Parish Council has a new face in its ranks. We welcomed Stuart Bishop as a co-opted Councillor following the last elections. Originally from Walsall, Stuart now lives in Coton but is a familiar face in Outwoods thanks to his work as Chairman of the Millennium Centre. His experience as a Civil Engineer is a welcome addition to the team.
Although it is still a little early, our next edition is in March, so I shall take this opportunity to wish every parishioner a Happy Christmas and an enjoyable and fulfilling New Year. We shall all continue to do our best to serve you as Parish Councillors in 2020!
Cllr Gail Gregory
Chair of Gnosall Parish Council