The Committee (From Swindon Advertiser)

The Committee

10:59am Monday 1st June 2009

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Nigel Wynne, the Chairman, has been involved in the Festival for a number of years and is actively involved in the community. He brings laughter to our meetings and keeps us going with his enthusiasm and motivation. He has a special talent at playing the harmonica which Cricklade was treated to last year, and you can normally see him about town on one of his classic motorcycles.

Karen Hodge works at Triumph in Swindon and is the committee secretary – a job she thoroughly enjoys (or so we keep reminding her!). After joining 6 years ago, Karen has rapidly found herself a key member of the team responsible for booking and co-ordinating the acts. And of course, Karen brings along one of her most valuable assets, her husband Richard who is always a “willing” volunteer on the day.

Angela Jensen works as school adviser and inspector. She has been on the committee for 5 years and provides useful contacts with the local schools ensuring that local children are involved as much as possible. Angela has recently completed a doctorate and so is known as ‘The Doctor’.

Gary Whinfrey. Gary joined the committee in 2008. He is a familiar face around Cricklade and keeps himself busy in may aspects of the community. He works at Honda as a trainer – so keeps our diary planning in check. He and his wife, Jane, and family are keen on keeping fit and may often be seen at the Leisure Centre.

Steve Forrester is a driving instructor and has been on the festival committee since 2006. He is married to fellow member Lynn, and has been involved with the festival for a number of years as an entertainer and as a ‘willing’ helper at events. Steve is enthusiastic and has a very positive attitude. He is keen to get stuck in and you can rely on him for some awful joke-telling when the going gets tough!

Lynn Forrester is the only surviving member of the original committee from 2000. She is married to fellow member Steve. Lynn has recently taken a new role at Oxford Brookes University. She is also a great ideas person and co-ordinates the stallholders and local groups with Angela.

Louise Stevens is the Festival Committee’s ‘Chancellor of the Exchequer’. A whizz with figures, it is Lou’s job to make sure the festival books balance and all bills are paid! Louise is a keen and enthusiastic member of the team with a keen eye for the detail which makes the festival go with a swing. Louise enjoys listening to good music, Egyptian dancing and the great outdoors.

John Palmer has lived in Cricklade for many years (some of this time in the Old Bear with his parents – and lots more time has also been spent in the Red Lion, White Lion, White Hart………!) John works for the NHS and (like his wife Louise) enjoys listening to music and riding his motorbike – most of you will recognise John as the guy with the longest hair in the town.

Gill Messer joined the committee last year and is always guaranteed to bring a laugh to the meetings. Gill is retired but very busy in many community activities. Gill is the committee’s champion for disabled access during the Festival and tries to ensure that all of our festival plans take this into account.

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