Frome the Mayor: Great community events but challenging times ahead

Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s column as we go into the season of fluffy slippers, giant hoodies and of course pumpkins.

The main event over the past couple of weeks was our wonderful carnival, which I’m told has been a feature of the town for one hundred years. Months and months of work go into preparation of the floats, dance routines and parade plans, and it was a real treat to be behind the scenes and share in the excitement of the organisers and those taking part.

You don’t need to be reminded that I’m a big fan of glitter, and there was plenty on display here, as well as some real creative talent. The children’s costume parade in the afternoon was lovely to see (and very hard to judge!), and I thoroughly enjoyed walking the full parade route with the evening procession, through a sea of happy and excited faces.

This was the first Carnival since lockdown days, so it was even more special to see residents coming together and enjoying picnics and parties all through the streets.  A huge well done to the Carnival committee and all involved in pulling it together.

Another highlight was watching Frome College music students take over the stage at the Independent Market, in memory of a student who died suddenly last year. It’s a tough stage to play on, but I was so impressed with the young musicians and singers who performed.

A few bands played a mix of their own music and covers, and it was so exciting to see the new generation of Frome musicians cutting their teeth on live sets. I was especially pleased to see so many young women performing. I’m looking forward to seeing them all in their concerts soon.

On a less pleasing note, this time of year is going to mean increased challenges for many across the town as we face a cost-of-living crisis and families are being squeezed on all sides.  Lockdown showed us what a resilient town we are and what strong neighbourhood and community connections we have.

These will continue to be important this winter, and we can help by keeping our eyes on elderly or vulnerable neighbours and friends. There are organisations and groups in the town offering a range of support for anyone struggling, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or my colleagues at the council if we can help with anything.  Until next time, look after yourselves and each other.

Councillor Sara Butler