'Festival of Fleece'

Crowds join celebration of Witney Rotary Club's Diamond Jubilee.


The Rotary Club's 'Festival of Fleece' at Cogges Farm in Witney was the place to be on May Bank Holiday Monday. The Cogges site had been taken over by the Rotary Club of Witney to celebrate the Club's 60th Anniversary.

Entrance fees were lifted for the day and a host of attractions, stalls and displays gathered together to recall the Town's Heritage in the days when the 'Witney Blanket' set the standard across the world.. All from the wool on the backs of sheep.

The day began with Celebrity Chef Sofie Grigson performing the opening ceremony, before moving into the Wheat Barn to organise a series of Master Classes inviting members of the audience to show off their cookery skills.

As crowds of people flowed through the entrance gates Club President Mike Alexander felt that the plans for the day had been successful:

“The Festival of Fleece met all of our expectations - a vibrant free community event at Cogges enjoyed by well over 2,000 people which is more than twice the number that Cogges would have expected on a bank holiday Monday”..

President Mike was delighted with the attendance and especially with one unexpected bonus:

“A wonderful by-product was that with no 'hard sell' at all, nearly £1,000 was collected to help those suffering from the effects of the recent earthquake disaster in Nepal.”.

This voluntary response was a great indication of the close and trusting relationship between Witney Rotary Club and the local community. Only through receiving such support are local Rotarians able to give help to those less fortunate members of society.

During the day the screening of a series of Vintage Films showing the manufacture of the Witney Blanket proved very popular.

The highlight for many was a Pathe Film shot in a Witney Blanket Mill almost 100 years ago, giving a detailed view of the different stages of production. For many, who had never set foot in a Blanket Mill, this was their introduction to the numerous skills that once dominated the Town.

Witney Rotarians would like to thank everyone who joined with them to celebrate this special occasion and to the local community for their enthusiastic support over the past Sixty Years. Thank You!

If you would like to be involved in helping to plan and run local events for the community why not consider joining the Rotary Club? We are currently looking to attract new Rotarians.

To find out what's involvedRead More.....

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