After such a packed 10 days there are so many events that deserve an honourable mention but so little space – so here are my personal highlights:
Certainly the first highlight must be the opening ceremony on Friday when we had a major break in the weather just in time for the ceremony which was attended by Nicola King our present mayor, with our previous mayor Ken Pollard and our MP Alistair Strathern, together with Shefford’s own “Belle” – Emily Price from “Be our Guest” who jointly orchestrated themselves to cut our ribbon.
Saturday saw a wealth of highlights – Scarecrows, Community Market and a Flower Festival to feast your eyes on. My personal favourite was ” Shefford in the Past” a rolling drop in film show with material on the pram races, the floods, and the raft races, also an extensive town centre market. Street demonstrations featured, and did I mention the floods?
Sunday – Garage Sale Trail – a mega fave obviously and not just because my partner Lesley runs it or that we had a garage sale village parked on our front verge but because thete were so many excellent and busy stalls. More excellent Scarecrows and the Stag Walkers group who met in the Town Meadow car park and headed out for Stamford and Summerhill by way of the Navigation river section,
Monday – the Shared Space at the Baptist Church Hall was well attended with people sharing community in an attentive space. My own Tai Chi class at the Community Hall is always a highlight of my week.
Tuesday – more Rambling, and Art Society group and two sets of young atheletes – the Black Ice Academy Cheer and the Shefford Majorettes who welcomed 5 new girls to try out baton and ribbon twirling and Pom Pom skills. Meanwhile The Greenspace Conservation Group were hard at work in Bellcote Meadow. Later the WI and Nicola Burr filled the Community Hall with a well attended talk on Bess of Hardwick and Plastic Free Shefford.
On Wednesday I visited the NEED Project at the Methodist Church Hall with free food on offer during the day and communal singing in the evening.
Thursday – more walking , this time from the Library – Shefford is certainly a town that walks and paints! In the evening I met the Shefford and District Amateur Radio Club (SADAR) at the Community Hall – which has been newly refurbished with full audio visual facilities.
Friday – BEST House was host to a guided practice session with Mindfulness coach Will George while at the STMA Self Help artists were happily working away on their drawing and painting with Carole Wilkinson. Our weekly Friday Farmers Market goes from strength to strength and creat a welcome feature in the town centre.
Saturday started for me with another personal favourite – the Art Exhibition in the Community Hall where lots of excellent works were on display, while across the road Neville Funerals team were Talking (about) Elephants in their bereavement support group. Then in the evening the town was entertained by Sloop Groggy Dogs Sea Shanty group – another success!
Sunday – the last day of our Community Festival included a visit to the Bowls club where they had their annual finals of both mens and ladies competitions. 
It was a brilliant week with so many events that everyone must surely have found something to do and delight them. My thanks to all the event organisers for once again making our festival a success!
