From the mayor – 12th October 2023

HELLO everyone, I’d like to begin my column this week with a huge thank you to all the Frome organisations and community groups that support and help many of those in need.

These organisations show how caring Frome people are as a community and how they reach out to help. Please support them in any way you can so that they can continue with all the good work that they do.

It’s been a busy time and as usual, we’ve attended a real variety of events and met many fantastic local people along the way. We enjoyed several Sustainable Fashion Week events – Clothes Swap, Mend Your Clothes and Fibershed and learnt lots about looking after clothes and making them last longer – great for the environment and the wallet!

A real highlight of the year for me personally is Multicultural Frome. This year was no exception. It was wonderful to see Multicultural Frome come together to celebrate cultures and traditions through food, fun, information, and performance. Well done to all who took part and helped but especially to Lena Grimes and Ezeema Caff.

I was able to catch Penny and Abi, Friends of Trinity First School, at their Macmillan Coffee Morning (I was beaten by my deputy, Andy Jones but did manage to buy some cake!) Thank you to both and all those who held coffee mornings across Frome.

I must also thank Emma Wilkes, head teacher of Oakfield Academy, for the tea and biscuits for our meeting. Lots covered and a pleasure to be in the school and to meet Acorn, the school chocolate Labrador.

There is plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks. The spectacular Drone Lightworks returns on Saturday 4th November. This is a partnership between Celestial and Frome Town Council and this year’s title is Close Encounters of the Frome Kind.

Details are now available for the lantern making workshops in preparation for the Christmas Lantern Parade on Friday 24th November. Frome Walking Festival starts Friday 10th November. Most of the walks are free and are for all ages and abilities – great for families! I hope that many of you will be able to take part in these events.

Full information of these and many more events can be found on the Frome Town Council website.

As always, take care of yourselves and each other. Check on your friends and neighbours and support each other. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues if we can be of any help.

Philip Campagna