We did it! After years of planning and hard work, the Friends, together with the local community, celebrated the official opening of the Reading With a View Garden at the beginning of May. The rainy start didn’t dampen spirits and everyone agreed that the event was a huge success.
The grand opening was conducted by Taffy Thomas, the Storyteller Laureate, who later entertained the children with a range of exciting stories, both inside the library and, once the rain had stopped, outside in the pergola.
A host of other entertainment was laid on. There were musical interludes from Fiddle Faddle, the Guardian Band Ensemble, and the KEQMS Singers. There was dancing too. The Fylde Coast Cloggers treated us to a display of traditional North West Morris dances, and children from Heyhouses School danced around the maypole. In between stories, children could have their faces painted for free and join in other activities.
This wasn’t a fun raising event. The Friends wanted to create a fun day for everyone and to celebrate a long-held dream – the creation of a beautiful reading garden for everyone to use.
Maypole dancing performed by children from Heyhouses School
Morris dancing by the Fylde Coast Cloggers
Face painting fun