West Hallam - 'Hall Of Fame'
w/e 09 May 2010
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
The Methodist Church
at West Hallam stages a Flower Festival every two years and as
this year ends in an even number, it was time again to enjoy
the event which is held over the Bank Holiday weekend at the
beginning of May. Each time a theme is chosen and this year it
was 'Hall of Fame' featuring some well known personalities. There
were ten displays in all and many of them can be seen here. The
first display to be seen this year was at the entrance to the
church and portrayed the 'Lady With The Lamp'. Although born
in Italy, Florence Nightingale was brought up on the family's
estate at Lea Hall in Derbyshire.
I have twice before included images from West Hallam's festivals
which can be seen by clicking these links:
From 2002 - 'The
Rainbow' ----- From 2006 - 'Women
Of The Bible'
|
Another local celebrity is the controversial author D. H. Lawrence,
born a few miles away in Eastwood, and the symbol he adopted
of the Phoenix was expertly created in flowers.
|
Sir Richard Arkwright was High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1787
but is probably better known as being a leading entrepreneur
in the Industrial Revolution and his water powered Masson Mill
for spinning cotton into thread still stands at Matlock Bath
although it is no longer used for this purpose. The flower display
in this corner of the church also featured photos and several
items associated with the spinning process.
|
On another wall in the church, a large flag provided the backdrop
to an internationally acclaimed figure - Nelson Mandela. The
anti-apartheid activist and freedom fighter imprisoned for twenty
seven years was released in 1990 and went on to lead the transition
to mulit-racial democracy becoming President of South Africa
between 1994 and 1999 - a worthy inclusion in any Hall of Fame.
|
Neil Armstrong of course, the first man to set foot on the moon,
is another who needs little introduction and one corner of the
church had been transformed into a (Clangers inspired?) moonscape complete with
twinkling stars and a flower adorned moon module.
|
Communication between the astronauts who went to the moon and
earth was of paramount importance and the next display was inspired
by Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the first practical
telephone who obtained a patent in 1876 and succeeded in getting
his telephone to work just three days later. I don't suppose
for one minute he envisaged the mobile devices in common use
today.
|
The sporting world was the inspiration for another display and
local ice dancing heroes Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean who
both come from Nottingham, had their photo incorporated into
a window setting that also included a pair of ice skates and
boots. The European and World champions added the Olympic title
to their list of achievements in 1984 scoring twelve perfect
sixes in the process.
|
Other displays in the church were inspired by Grace Darling,
the lighthouse keeper's daughter famous for a maritime rescue
in 1838 and former Prime Minister 'Iron lady' Margaret Thatcher
but the focal point of the Flower Festival was a wooden cross
bedecked with pure white flowers and titled simply 'Jesus - The
Son of God'.
The festival opened on Friday evening with a concert in the church
and there was a Songs of Praise service on Sunday evening. It
closed on Tuesday and the members of the church then had to dismantle
all the displays but no doubt they are already planning for 2012
when I wouldn't be surprised if thoughts of the Olympics are
at the forefront of their thoughts.
|