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RODSEC is the successor to Rolleston's successful Millennium Committee. It is a coordinating body for village organisations and interested residents. Its aim is to provide periodic community events, to raise funds to enhance community amenities and assist in preservation of the village. The Chairman is John Phillips.
Using extracts from various reports in Rollestonian amongst other sources this section of the web site is intended to provide news of their activities.
RODSEC - Summer 2018 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of the Rollestonian)
Ready, Steady, Grow
Turn the Village Red Update
Thank you to all those keen cultivators who have kindly added their names to the list of growers supporting the ‘Turn the Village Red’ project. RoDSEC’s campaign is to have displays of poppies and other red flowers on show around the village to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War, with each step of the cultivation process, from small seed to full flower, being an act of remembrance.
Sow & Grow
During the winter, Simon Richardson, our talented co-ordinator and fledgling nurseryman, has been busy making up small bags of poppy seeds which have been mixed with dry sand, to make sowing easier. The seed variety used is that of the Flanders Poppy (Red Corn Poppy) papaver rhoeas. Free packets of seed have been delivered along with a sheet of useful, easy-to-follow instructions. Theoretically, we are well into the sowing season; however, adverse weather conditions have knocked this back. A prolonged spell of clear, cloudless skies and plenty of warming sunshine will soon get these tiny seeds started.
Summer Bedding
Surviving in far better conditions under cover and indoors is a population of plug plants. They are being ‘grown on’ for planting out in borders and containers during the summer. Matured plug plants will be distributed for planting out when the risk of frost has passed.
Let’s Grow Together
You don’t have to be on any list to become involved in the Turn the Village Red campaign. Anyone can have a go at making individual displays in tubs, pots, hanging baskets, garden borders or, in the case of poppy seed, scattered directly on prepared ground. In Remembrance, let’s grow together.
RoDSEC Busy Poppy Making Workshop
A new cottage industry took root on Saturday 24th March when 80 eager poppy making petal pickers popped into the old Grammar School Room to artfully transform piles of paper bowls and plates into an astonishing floral display. Before hand, each plate and bowl had been skilfully painted on both sides in a delectable red. You can imagine the scene as almost every flat surface in designated domestic interiors was covered by screes of red discs, settling like ash from an erupting volcano. It looked as if a new board game had suddenly caught on. Weeks before, Phil Irwin had sourced the paint, Wilko’s finest “Nearly Famous”, and tested its durability. Surprisingly, painted paper poppies comfortably survived intact two weeks of ravaging Rolleston rain.
By the end of the day, 488 individual blooms had been artfully created on this non-stop assembly line. Remarkably, the coming and going of people throughout the day did not appear to affect output. Each happy shift kept the momentum going, with little slack in the system. Even the pleasant distraction of a mid-day wedding, with church bells ringing and smartly suited interlopers, did not interrupt the flow. The atmosphere in this friendly workshop was very special indeed. Working in this vibrant community of skilful artisans was truly uplifting. It was wonderful to be part of this happy, mixed-age workshop. On average, each person made 6 poppies. By our calculations, these will go a long way towards meeting the total required for the Rolleston Remembrance Cascade. Before being artfully draped from St Mary’s Church Tower, each poppy (many bearing the name of their maker) will be carefully positioned and then attached to netting. This fabulous catch will be hoisted in place, stretching from the tower battlements above to the ground of the churchyard below.
Thank you to all who supported this event; by cutting, stapling, bodging, sewing, painting brewing and serving you helped to bring Rev Ian Whitehead’s vision of a Poppy Cascade closer to realisation. Your fantastic response exceeded the wildest expectations of a truly grateful RoDSEC team.
No Petticoats Here
Rolleston Club Sunday 25th March at 7:30pm
Another Live & Local show supported by Arts Council England,
Staffordshire County Council & East Staffordshire Borough Council
With British Summer Time drawing back the curtains, we have in recent years grown accustomed, on pleasant Sunday evenings, to enjoying high quality springtime entertainments. With “No Petticoats Here” the gifted and talented Louise Jordan did not disappoint. In this remarkable one-woman show, Louise introduced a spellbound audience to a stylish and original theatre art form. By slight of hand, she skilfully operated a battery of equipment: props, laptop, microphone, sound desk and musical instruments (keyboard and two acoustic guitars). The artiste conjured up an exhibition of framed monochrome photographs, introducing inspirational women who challenged expectations and made their mark during and after the First World War. They were the inspirations for this brave and completely compelling show. Louise’s informative narrative, supported by a recorded sound track of voices and effects, guided us through eleven original songs, each one researched, written and performed by Louise herself.
In a memorable piece of sustained storytelling, Louise first introduced us to remarkable women, and then, through song, brought them to life. “Dorothy Lawrence dreamt of working as a war correspondent. “Freewheeling” is about Dorothy’s desire for adventure and her resolve to visit the Front Line.... (she) travelled to the Western Front on a bicycle she purchased for £2” Dorothy dressed as a soldier, stuffing her corset with cotton pads and scrubbed her face with an abrasive substance to imitate a shaving rash. The disguise worked, bringing her to the firing step. The sound of a tinkling bicycle bell steered us to the song:
“Uncorsetted and clad in khaki
Bound and bandaged on your journey
Risking reputation on the way…”
Beautifully written, and exquisitely performed songs introduced us to an admirable squad of “surplus women” (the “excess” women who could not marry), football-playing factory girls (munitioneers), motorcycling ambulance drivers (Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm), a matron nurse (Ada Yorke), a VAD nurse (Vera Brittain) a spy chief (Louise de Bettignies) and a pioneering physicist (Hertha Ayton)
This remarkable anthology covered the full gamut of human emotions, ranging from humour to pathos. In a complete and flawless performance, Louise Jordan’s crystal clear singing resonated with a generous and sympathetic audience. This moving experience brought us very much closer to appreciating the importance of individual courage in challenging times. These remarkable ladies stood up, stepped out, made a difference and changed the world. In the year that marks the Centenary of Armistice Day the performance of ‘No Petticoats Here’ delivered a moving and fitting opening to Rolleston Remembers.
Thanks to all who supported this event and the RoDSEC team who set it up and persuaded so many to come along. Thank you to all involved with the raffle: for the generosity of prize-givers, ticket-sellers, buyers and the athleticism of prize runners. We are grateful to our hosts and staff at Rolleston Club for making us so very welcome at their magnificent and improving venue.
RODSEC - Spring 2018 News
(Details extracted from article that first appeared in the Spring 2018 issue of the Rollestonian)
Forthcoming RoDSEC Events
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Related Links:
Burton and District Arts Council (BADAC) - a registered charity that supports the voluntary arts community in and around Burton.
Last updated: 19 May 2018