Alstonefield Wakes
Alstonefield will celebrate Wakes in 2013 on 29th & 30th June
The Wakes have their beginnings in the middle ages. They were originally a religious festival when villagers would hold a feast of dedication of their local parish church, linked to their Church’s patron saint’s day. In Alstonefield, St. Peter’s day continues to be celebrated, on the nearest Sunday to that date. Festivities often extend to the Saturday. Plans for 2013 are:-
Sat 29th June – 2:00 – 4.00 pm. - Family games & races on the playing field
5.00 pm Village street party for parishioners – bring a plate of food to share. Children’s fancy dress competition, theme 1920′s/30′s gangsters. Numbers required for putting out tables. Replies to Martin Wilding on 310025
Sun 30th June – 1.00 pm Ladies v. Gents village cricket match
(If you’d like to play please come to the practice sessions on Fridays in June from 5.30 pm. to 7.00 pm. on the playing field.
5.30 pm. Cream tea in the Old School Garden (Village Hall if wet).
6.30pm march from the Village Hall to the Wakes Service on the George Green (in the Church if wet)
Address by the Archdeacon of Stoke
Wakes 2012
The weekend started with sports and games between the showers. The children happily ignored the rain and enjoyed the various activities organised so superbly by Claire Linley. The Bellringers had also organised a Mobile Belfry,which provided a great chance for everyone to have a go at bell-ringing.We were beaten by the weather on Sunday when the Ladies v. Gents Cricket Match had to be postponed.* However, the tea went ahead very successfully in the Village Hall, followed by the Procession to the George Green led by Bishop Geoff Annas of Stafford. The sun shone for the Wakes Service, and the Warslow Silver Band played superbly to those of us who braved the winds until 8.00 pm. SEE PICTURES OF THE WEEKEND HERE
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Wakes 2011
The weekend kicked off with a Sports Spectacular on a sunny Saturday afternoon, which brought villagers out in force to compete in welly wanging, plate smashing, ‘rat bashing’, bagatelle and races galore, finishing with the traditional tug-of-war. Well done, Claire, for organising a great afternoon of fun and games for all ages.
The weather stayed fine for Sunday with village cricket and cream teas. In the cricket, the ladies put up a good fight against the men, but couldn’t quite produce the form they needed to maintain the lead. See the full match report below.
The teas and strawberry scones served in the Old School Garden after the cricket were delicious. Many thanks to Margaret and Muriel. And those of us present were fortunate enough to witness the donations of £1000 each to the Village Hall and St. Peter’s Church by Noel Peat on behalf of the Leaden Boot. A fantastic achievement.
Meg Handscombe with her “secret recipe” Alstonefield Wakes Cake
Meg Handscombe’s crisp fresh mint biscuit won the official Wakes Cake competition (pictured here with Judges, Richard & Sue Grandjean) but Jo Wood took the ‘people’s favourite’ award with her tasty mixed spice and crystallised ginger entry.
A huge number of us marched with the Warslow Silver Band to the George Green where Vicar Anne gave a very moving service in front of a record crowd. The celebrations continued into the night with pizza, coffee and candelabra…. Photos of the weekend can be seen in the GALLERY. Also, please have a look at the Forum which has a link to a Staffordshire blogspot with a photo and complimentary comments about our village.
Gentlemen Play Fast and Loose with Ladies in front of Large Crowd
In an uncompromising, tension racked game, with more family sub-plots than Murder on the Orient Express, the Gentlemen just managed to pull it off. Victory with just two overs to spare was sweet revenge for last year’s humiliation and it was fitting that captain Richard Allen struck the winning blow, after his inexplicable decision to put the Ladies in first so nearly backfired.
There was some divine strokeplay from openers Anne Ballard and Tara Allen, until shouts of “oh yes” proved premature and the vicar’s stumps were splayed by a straight one from Alan Hayes. Carrie Ross entered the fray and with the intimidating threat of “it’s the spare room for you” presumably if one of husband Brian’s balls managed to slip through her defences. Fighting fire with the demonic church warden, John Reavy was brought into the attack and was promptly given two warnings by the umpire for his bodyline attack on Sue Lovatt.
Meanwhile the cricket match continued. Ladies skipper Cathy Reavy was plundering anything loose and picking up singles at will and real momentum was building as Annabel Simms, Meg Handscombe and Marie Mcllroy showed how easy paced the wicket was, with some lusty blows into the crowd. Claire Linley paid a brief visit to the middle to say hello to family members, so it was left to skipper Reavy with 34 runs to carry the Ladies innings to the Mr Whippy heights of all out for 99.
Captain Allen had some serious talking to do after a sloppy fielding performance, especially from the experienced Rob Handscombe, made worse by the provision of an irresistible array of temptation in the village hall, all designed to take a Gentleman’s mind off the job in hand.
Peter Linley opened the batting as if to the manor born, guiding his father to a stand of 20, before Cathy Reavy’s inswinger had Linley senior in trouble, quickly followed by Thomas Linley who failed to spot her back of the hand slower one. Annabel Simms dropped one on to Peter’s bails, ending a classy knock and, there being no more Linleys, Patrick Mcllroy strode to the wicket, dismissing his first ball to the boundary with disdain. Pin point accuracy and a refusal to give any width, from Pauline Hambleton and Meg Handscombe frustrated the Gentlemen’s scoring and when Cathy Reavy brought herself back into the attack, she immediately wreaked havoc with Patrick’s timber before getting one to catch veteran Ernie Allen unsighted as he adjusted his helmet and various other equipment. The pre-match money had been on warden Reavy to show his class, which looked like a good investment, until Sue Lovatt got one to pop up from nowhere and caught him high on the splice for 14. Rob Wood showing no visible signs of leash marks, soon broke free, reaching double figures in no time, before Simms got one to nip between his legs. After his three wickets, Alan Hayes was in the mood for making yet more hay, as he couldn’t help bludgeon the ball to all points, top scoring with 18 before becoming Cathy Reavy’s fifth victim. With 6 overs left and the Gentlemen on 79 for 8, the Ladies had a sniff. Cometh the hour, cometh captain Allen, ably assisted by the now banished Brian Ross, to steer the Gentlemen home, courtesy of some surprisingly elegant strokes.
100 for 8 with 2 overs to spare, but the real winners will be the lawyers.
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Report on Wakes Weekend – 2010
Saturday 26th June
The playing field came alive on Saturday afternoon with happy faces, excited children and great games & races for the start of Wakes weekend. The children entered the races with an abundance of enthusiasm, relishing both the taking part and an element of competition – they were all winners! The afternoon ‘hotted up’ with the s’ races – we saw Ernie Allen & John Reavy make a brave attempt in the ‘three-legged race’ against stiffer and younger competition – and the tug-of-war, so nearly won by the ladies, went to the gentlemen in the end, but only after a number of extras joined the team when they were looking like losing!
A quick change and the festivities moved to the Street Party. For Thomas and Peter Linley, the transformation was incredible and they won joint 1st prize in the fancy dress competition as ‘Tweedledee & Tweedledum’. But all the children entered into the spirit of the day with fantastic ‘Mad Hatter Tea Party’ costumes.
Over 110 people partook in a fabulous buffet on a lovely summer’s evening under the village bunting. A rain shower later in the evening didn’t succeed in dampening our spirits, and those who moved under the trees celebrated by candlelight into the night.
Sunday 27th June
John Reavy guided 23 parishioners through a stimulating history tour of the church and churchyard. John pointed out architectural details and interesting artifacts, including parts of Saxon crosses, dating back to 850 AD. The tour was followed by tea and a brief slide show of the skeletons uncovered during the Rainwater project.
Later, In glorious sunshine, local families followed the Warslow Silver Band as theyprocessed from the Village Hall to the George Green. Rev Arthur Hack admirably filled in for our ill vicar, Anne Ballard.
Nearly 80 people enjoyed the open air service on the green with customers from theGeorge joining in the hearty hymn singing. At the end of the service, John Reavy announced that after just one week of the Lead Appeal, with personal giving by generous parishioners and £375 from the Cricket Club, we have raised £1,050.
After the service, the band continued to play popular tunes as children played and s enjoyed a glass of wine and cheese toasties! The band generously refused their fee, preferring to donate it to the Lead Appeal.
A heartfelt ‘ thank you’ from St Peter’s PCC. A blessed and glorious weekend was had by all.
Click here to see over 100 photos of the weekend, and why not tell us what you thought of the weekend on the Forum
