Thurston Big Weekend event celebrates the best of the village
Thurston organisations showcased the best of the village at its Big Weekend event on Saturday and Sunday.
Initially planned as a way of welcoming all the new residents who have moved into the village, it also served to reunite villagers kept apart during the pandemic and to highlight the best of the village to prospective new residents.
From circus skills to Zumba Gold and a charity headshave, it was all on the agenda.
Organised by The Friends of Thurston Library working with the parish council, the Big Weekend was a vibrant celebration with a packed timetable.
Anne O’Connell, of Thurston Library Friends, said planning started seven months ago, when it became clear the coronavirus vaccination programme was gathering pace.
“We thought the majority of the events could be held outdoors to be covid-safe and enjoyable.
“We wanted the weekend to be fun and help to raise our spirits after such a difficult time as well as give an insight into life in Thurston. It does seem to have done just that.
“For the past 18 months people have been moving into the new developments in the village but a lot of what goes on here has been closed, so it was a chance to open everything up.”
“It was a great weekend – we have had really good feedback.
Anne said the Library Friends would re-group this week to discuss the Big Weekend and see if there was potential to hold something similar again in the future.
Big Weekend events included:
- Bury Soft Play taster session
- Sponsored kick-scooter rally organised by the Thurston Ben Wragge Skate Park Charity
- Grand opening of Cavendish Hall’s new kitchen, funded thanks to Biffa, by Cllr Penny Otton
- A ‘Face the Veg’ competition
- Treasure Trail
- Raffle
- Big Weekend specials at Thurst Coffee Shop
- Exhibition on the history of Thurston
- Harvest festival decorations, children’s activities and a cake stall at St Peter’s Church
- Activities for children with Thurston Scouts
- ‘Weekend Wings’ children’s craft activity at the library
- Acrobatic displays from ‘Backflip Ben’
- A performance by Bury Student Orchestra
- Steph’s charity head shave to raise awareness of mitochondrial disease
- A draw-along with Nick Sharratt
- Thurston Rugby Club first team fixture
- Zumba Gold demonstration
- A children’s disco at New Green Centre
- ‘Classy Burgers’ dished up by Thurston Butchers Cookhouse
- Live music: blues, rock and jazz from the Hullab’lues
- A family fun quiz with prizes
Venues open over the weekend included the New Green Centre, Thurston Library, Cavendish Hall, the recreation ground, Thurston Rugby Club and St Peter’s Church.
Thurston resident Steph Brooks, who had her head shaved during the Big Weekend for Steph and Jake’s Mito Mission, which raises awareness for mitochondrial disease, said: “Little old me having my head shaved has raised well over £700 and a huge amount of awareness, which is what it’s all about.
“I’m so, so proud of this achievement. Thank you to everyone who supported me.”
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