A Splashing Time
Rolleston on Dove Special
Events Committee (RODSEC)
News 2004
RODSEC - News (Winter 2004 - Rollestonian)
On Sunday 8th May 2005, it will be exactly 60 years since the Victory in Europe. In support of a Commemoration Parade Service at St Mary’s Church, and events at Rolleston Club, RODSEC will stage a free exhibition from 6th – 8th May in the Old Grammar School, and for this we shall need help. We are looking for wartime artefacts, such as uniforms and other wartime clothing, kitchen and other household equipment, recipes and souvenirs, anything connected with World War II.
We should love to have your personal stories. If you write them down, we will type them or, if you prefer, we could make tape recordings. Were you an evacuee or did you have an evacuee to stay with you? Did you or a relative serve during the war in the Forces, Home Guard, Land Army, etc? Do you have any stories to tell of Rolleston during the war?
In order to raise money to enable us to put on this free exhibition, we shall hold two events. By the time you read this, Stretton STARS will have entertained the village with “A Bit of a Do II”. We are really looking forward to seeing them again as we enjoyed their last performance for us.
On Saturday March 5th, we shall have “An Evening with Oliver Cromwell” in the Scout HQ at 7.30pm. Tickets , which cost £5 including supper, will be available from Starbuck News or from on 813457. There will be a licensed bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks. Trevor Crofts’ performance as Oliver Cromwell follows the pattern of Lesley Smith’s very successful appearances in the village as “Gloriana” and “Mary, Queen of Scots”.
Building on the success and interest in Rolleston’s first well dressing it has been proposed that this should be repeated periodically, not on a regular calendar basis but in association with significant village events. The VE Day commemoration events and WW2 memorabilia exhibition are considered such an occasion.
There will be a meeting in the Old Grammar School early in the new year for any one interested in assisting with the next production. Please check the village notice boards for date and time.
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Stretton Theatre and Revue Society (STARS) joined with the Waterside Players to put on an evening of "mirth, music and merriment" in Rolleston Scout Headquarters on Saturday 13 November 2004, where they entertained a large audience as part of the latest event organised by RODSEC. The show, called "A Bit of a Do II", provided the first opportunity for the two dramatic societies to work together, and they will again co-operate in a show called "Arabian Knights - El Panto" at Waterside School in Stapenhill from 2nd to 5th February.
The evening in Rolleston included sandwiches and cakes for 110 people, supplied by members of RODSEC and friends, and was the first of two fund-raising events to raise money for a free exhibition to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of VE Day next year. The next event will be "An Evening with Oliver Cromwell" on 5 March, and will follow the lines of the previous very popular appearances in the village of Lesley Smith of Tutbury Castle as "Mary, Queen of Scots" and "Gloriana". This will be a "spuds and puds" evening, and there will be a licensed bar selling beer, wine and soft drinks.
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RODSEC - News (Autumn 2004 - Rollestonian)
What a wonderful time we had on the Day of Traditional English Events! Even the weather was kind to us. The well dressing, which was a completely new venture for us, turned out very well indeed. We are especially grateful to Ian Barker for his sponsorship. It took a week to prepare, but we had a lot of fun while we worked. We are grateful to the Trustees of the Almshouses for allowing us to use the lawn, and for making the garden look such an attractive feature of the display.
The Alderbrook Armada looked particularly fine, and aroused a lot of interest. The 17 organisations who sponsored the boats showed a lot of imagination and initiative in decorating them. The Mummers put on two splendid performances, which attracted large crowds. The group has now taken on a life of its own, and is keen to perform on suitable occasions in future.
Many thanks to Rev. Ian Whitehead and St. Mary’s PCC for the use of the Church, Churchyard and Old Grammar School, to Rolleston Club for the use of their premises, and to the Parish Council for the grant and for allowing us to use the Croft and Elizabeth Avenue playing field.
Lack of space prevents me from naming all the individuals and organisations who put in so much time and effort to create a day for the whole village to enjoy, but we do thank them all. We should also like to thank everyone who came along on the day to support us.
Our next event will be on Saturday 13th. November at 7.30 p.m. in the Scout HQ, when “Stretton STARS” will provide the entertainment. They put on a splendid show for us last time, and I’m sure they will do the same again. Tickets will cost £5, and will include supper. They will be available from Starbuck News and from me.
On 5th. March 2005, we shall have a visit from “Oliver Cromwell” to tell us of his life and times. Please put the date in your new diary.
These events will raise money so that we can improve amenities and put on more free entertainment for the village.
Ann Burston, Chairman, Tel 813457.
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As part of its Day of Traditional English Events on 3 July, Rolleston on Dove Special Events Committee (RODSEC) is planning to moor decorated boats on the Alderbrook in front of the Almshouses. The boats, made of plywood, have been designed by John Underhill and are inspired by paper boats he saw in China. Each boat will be sponsored by local organisations and decorated by them. John's first boat shows "The Owl and the Pussycat". By the pump on the lawn in front of the Almshouses, there will be Rolleston's first well-dressing board.
The picture shows RODSEC members Tom Martin (left) and Arnold Burston testing the prototype.
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RODSEC - News (Spring 2004 - Rollestonian)
Our "Gloriana" evening with Queen Elizabeth I (or Mrs. Lesley Smith of Tutbury Castle) was a great success. This was a joint venture with Rolleston on Dove WI: we shared the work and the profits. WI members put on a splendid supper for 140 people, and RODSEC members did the rest. It really was a very pleasant and enjoyable evening. We thank everyone for their help and support.
The Parish Council has agreed to pay for replacement winter aconites and primroses on the Croft, and members of RODSEC will obtain and plant them.
Traditional English Events Day Venture
Our next venture is a Traditional English Events Day on Saturday 3rd. July this year, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no admission fee. There will be lots of things to do for all the family.
The day will start with the ringing of the Church bells. We hope that the Mayor of East Staffordshire will be available to perform the Opening Ceremony, with Queen Elizabeth the First, “Gloriana” in attendance.
On the Croft the Day will start with maypole dancing by children from the Mosley Primary School, Anslow, The Barton Fiddle Folk will play and there will be two performances by the Hearts of Oak Morris Men and two magic shows. If there is sufficient support we will persuade the Rolleston Mummers out of retirement.
These open air performances will be supplemented with craft displays, tea and coffee and cream teas. We shall have hot dogs, candy floss, a honey stall, face painting, a children's roundabout, a skittle alley and bowling (for a pig, or at least part of one).
We shall have decorated boats on the Alderbrook, sponsored by village organisations, and there will be a well-dressing at the Almshouses. Rolleston Club will be open, where there will be a model railway display, and tea and coffee and light lunches will be available.
There will be an Open Art Exhibition in the Old Grammar School, displays in the Church on the sale of the Mosley Estate and on the Choral Society's 40th Anniversary, and a chance to have a go at brass rubbing. The organ will play and Doveside WI belle-plate ringers will entertain us. John Underhill will demonstrate a pole lathe in the churchyard.
We are grateful to the Parish Council for their financial support. Nearer to the time, we shall no doubt have things to add, but please put the date in your diary and note that this is for one day only. I look forward to seeing you there.
Ann Burston
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"Gloriana"
Saturday 31 January 2004, Scout HQ
One hundred and forty people turned out on a very wet evening to listen to a 'lively' talk by the 469 year old Elizabeth I - looking splendid in her '£70,000' costume, standing 5ft 10" tall, with white waxed face, one earing and red hair. She gave an insight into the life of the queen, from early childhood right up to her death at the age of 69 including details about her mother, her childhood, the many suitors, her journey to the tower, how the country grew prosperous and saw the population double to 4 million, and the sorrow it caused having to execute Mary Queen of Scots. She also talked briefly - as children were present - on her specialist subject which caused much merriment.
It is not surprising that her enthusiasm and enterprise has seen attendances at Tutbury Castle top 110,000 last year (compared to 8,000 when she took over in 1999). This number is likely to be even higher this year after various appearances on tv including Time Team. The first baptism since the time of Cromwell is also being held there. So whether it is ghosts you hope to see, the lady herself, the longhorn, the infamous bull, or just explore this ancient monument, then why not pay a visit.
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This joint event organised by RODSEC and Rolleston on Dove WI also included a wonderful supper of soups and puddings after the talk.
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© This site was created by Richard Bush
Last updated: 30 May 2005
