Rebuilding community at sunny St Faith’s summer fete
This time last year we weren’t allowed to hold large community events, even outside, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What a difference a year – and vaccines – make!
In the last weeks we have had two wonderful community events in Lee-on-the-Solent. On June 2, to mark HM the Queen’s platinum jubilee, a group of local people organised Lee Beacon, a festival on the seafront.
The sun shone, and thousands of people joined a street party, listened to music, danced, and celebrated the
Queen’s long reign.
In the evening as the sun went down, we lowered the Union Flag as a bugler played Sunset, and I led a moment of reflection on the significance of the day – the like of which we will never see again.
Finally, we lit a beacon, as did many others across the country.
Then last Saturday, for the first time three years, St Faith’s held its summer fete. Again, the sun shone, and our community gathered to enjoy being together after so long.
We had music from local artists, stalls from local organisations and crafters, inflatables, food and drink, home-grown plants, games and more.
The donkey rides for kids – new this year – were particularly popular!
After two and a half years of the pandemic, when we had to keep apart to keep each other safe and many community events could not take place, it has been great to be able to gather in recent weeks.
The Jubilee reminded us that we have things to celebrate as a nation, not least Her Majesty’s long service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
Smaller community events – like our very own St Faith’s summer fete – also help to bring us out of our homes and remind us that although we are individuals, we live in communities, and that being together is important.
As we regroup after the pandemic, I hope that wherever you live, whether your community is small or large, urban or rural, rich or poor, we will find ways of building community together.
Not just through special events, but through the day-today caring for one another as neighbours and friends.
For more information visit stfaithslee.org.