Sunday 23 September 2012

A Totally Locally Birthday

Last Sunday we went to one of the loveliest and most unusual birthday parties around. Totally Locally Leek, the project working really bloomin' hard to encourage more people to support their town and shop closer to home, was one year old and there was plenty to celebrate.
Everyone got together at The Foxlowe, another really great project establishing a brilliant community arts centre run by local people for everyone.
There was tons to do too; crafty things, arty things, tasty things and lots of catching up with everyone.
The Foxlowe is a truly beautiful building (an 18th century merchant's house I think) that's having so much life breathed back into it now. The cafe is outstanding and a smashing place to relax with friends on Friday nights and hear some great music too.
 
Its also where we moved our comedy night too recently and the support from volunteers and local audiences has been fantastic
Outside there's a lovely walled garden with space for activities and tables if the sun ever appears.
Woody did a turn as compere drawing the raffle and presenting the Totally Locally Awards for everything from best savoury pie to best busker. Well done to everyone who was nominated or won and orgainised it too. We're really, really lucky to have you in our town.
This brilliant Totally Locally Leek Film, was shown at the event and I have to be honest and say, it made me cry! Hope you enjoy it and if you're in the area, please visit and support the people behind the best little market town in Britain.

20 comments:

Jacquie said...

Ahhhh , wonderful video made by talented youngsters.....just great and your shops look fab....made me want to visit.
Jacquie x

Kay said...

What a fabulous thing to do :-)

silverpebble said...

This looks like such a great event, Steph! How ace to have been part of it.

Heather said...

Great video and idea! Heather x

Rose H (UK) said...

Hubs and I went to Leek a couple of weeks ago and had a thoroughly good day there! I'll certainly be back again - especially as I drove and will remember the way ;o)
Seems like a great place to live.
Rose H

Louise said...

what a shame I missed this, I didn't even know they were having a first birthday party but I do like the totally locally thing. I've been meaning to pop into the Foxlowe and try out the cafe/tea room for a long time but still haven't done so.

What is the comedy night you do? That might be something we'd come to.

saraeden said...

It looked like a fab day but sadly we had other commitments! We have been part of the totally locally Leek markets(even though we are not totally Leek) and now the Sunday markets which started last month and well worth a visit, if you are ever there come and say hi!

Sara x

p.s.
must add...
it is fab how well supported it all is and the people of Leek should be very proud x

saraeden said...

Yikes hope that didn't sound like i had my totally locally head on!
It kind of gets you all fired up and all that! xx

Country Rabbit said...

hello steph, such a lovely event!!
love community events like that, there was a harvest fest in my mothers local cornish church but we were soaked walking back from the donkey farm that we missed it- the weather has turned very wet all of a sudden...better get me waterproofs on for the school run in the morning hehe ;0)x

busybusybeejay said...

We stopped in Leek last December on our way to a weekend in Waterhouses.It is certainly somewhere we want to go back to and explore some more.Lucky you living there.We live in a small market town in North Wales and this weekend it hosted a Food and Drink Festival.10,000 people visited yesterday,more than the population.(Not me,I'm injured at the moment).Comminity events like ours and yours are great.

just Gai said...

What an amazing event and what an amazing organisation.

Bristol, where I live, has just launched its own local currency, the Bristol Pound, with the same aim, ie to keep small independent businesses alive and well.

I hope Leek continues to flourish.

Anonymous said...

Great post, lots of lovely people, I love shopping in Leek
Thea x

LandGirl1980 said...

What a wonderful concept!

Donna said...

What a fab idea! Looks like a lot of fun :)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful video - I can see why it made you cry - such a simple idea but compelling viewing - much better than a lot of the TV ads. Next time we come for a visit to Derbyshire we are going to venture over to Leek - it doesn't look that far from Buxton or Longnor. We have been through Leek once but not sure where we were on our way to.

The mum of all trades said...

This is such a great idea.It does no harm to remind people to support their own local businesses now and again. The video is lovely too.

rusty duck said...

Great video. Living in a tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere has its advantages, but it lacks the community spirit and sense of fun you obviously have in Leek.

Great looking shops too. Enjoy.

sandiart said...

Gosh that made me a little teary too and I don't even live there, I'm way over here in Australia. I am a bit of a sentimental girl. I love stories of good things happening to good people and places. Must put that on the list to visit.....one day, sigh.
xx Sandi

Jay said...

What a lovely video, I haven't been to Leek since I was a child it's probably changed completely since then!

Annie Cholewa said...

When we lived in Stoke I always wanted to move out to Leek, but I ended up in Wales instead!

Go Leek!!