Friends of Parkinson's Park CIC

A while ago, a group of us bemoaned a fall off in ‘community fuddles’; the Yorkshire way where everyone bringing something to the party. So many new houses, so many new people – Guiseley was changing, and it needed a ‘fuddle shot in the arm’.

That was the seed from which the Lantern Parade grew. Whilst other towns put on a spectacle FOR people to watch, we wanted a spectacle WITH people; everyone bringing something to the party.

So, yesterday we had the impromptu children’s choir, cheering ‘We Three Kings’ and belting out Jingle Bells with gusto. When I asked the residents of Kelcliffe Lane, if it would be possible to move their cars between 4 -4.30pm everyone did so quite happily.

Our usual drummer leader lost his drums in the Drummond Mill fire and had to cancel late in the day, so Jacob Phillips and Ben Lawrence stepped in to organize the Sound of the Mill Band – of local people. At the other end of the generations Guiseley Brass Band bring that wonderful Yorkshire element to the singing.

The Guiseley Landmark Lanterns were designed and made by Lucy Phillips and family, whilst Richard from the Station Pub and Scott from the Factory Workers Club stepped up to help provide the refreshments. Continue reading →

Lantern parade today at 3.45pm for 4pm start. Lots of hard work been going on getting everything ready, so a big thank you to all the team.

This year we have some specially designed Guiseley Lanterns from the talented Lucy Phillips, and the Sound of the Mill Band with Jacob Phillips and Ben Lawrence. Hopefully, we have more larger lanterns carried following all the fun of the workshop.  You can see the Guiseley Lanterns here, they are amazing. Continue reading →

Grow Your Tenner

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Local Giving Fund during the ‘grow your tenner’ matchfunding campaign.  To date people have kindly donated £400 towards the cost of the events we run in the Park.   Local Giving have now extended their deadline for giving £10 which will be matchfunded to £20 until the 28th November – so if you’d like to make a donations there is still an opportuntity to do so.

Lantern Making Workshop – 26th November 10-3pm Baptist Church

Dont’ forget to book your place on the Lantern Making workshop next week.

Planting Bulbs

We have some daffodil bulbs donated by Groundwork – if you can plant a few before the end of November, let us know on Parkinsonspark@gmail.com, and we can let you have some.

We are pleased to announce the details of our 2016 Lantern Parade.   This year we’ve added a lantern making workshop so that you can make your own bigger lantern on a stick; this will be on 26th November 10am – 3pm in Guiseley Baptist Church.   Book a place here, or drop in.   Contributions to materials are on a Pay What You Can basis.

On 27th November, we’ll be starting the Advent Tree decorating, which will go on until Christmas.  This will be between 2 – 3pm, in the Park,  just before the Guiseley Christmas Market and switch on  – so come and add something to the Advent tree, go for a cup of tea at Brambles Bakehouse or Everybodys, or a drink at one of the Guiseley Pubs,  then on to the Market and Switch On, which is at 5.45pm with the Brownlee Brothers.

For the ‘band’ to accompany the Parade from the Park to the Cross, our usual Community Musician sadly lost his drums in the Drummond Mill Fire.   So we have asked local Community Arts Group, JP Productions to step in with their ‘Percussion of the Mill’  Community Band.   This is for anyone to join in, and we’ll be announcing details of a workshop for this to learn the rhythm when we know the date.

Finally, the Parade itself is on 18th December; gather at 3.45pm in the Park for a 4pm parade down to the Cross, where Guiseley Brass Band will play carols for us to sing, the Community Choir will mingle in the crowd to add to the singing,  and refreshments will be available.