Wray Scarecrow Village

Wray Institute new kitchen ready for this year's festival

2009-04-05T19:19:00.002+01:00

From Wray Institute New Kitchen
the new institute kitchen is finished just in time for the scarecrow festival
Well done to all the committee and specially to Sue who was the driving force!

Over 60s trip 2007

2007-07-21T16:35:00.000+01:00

Click here to view Rita's photos of the Over 60s trip to Moffat

Brenda Retires...

2007-07-18T22:00:00.000+01:00

Click here
to view photos of Brenda's retirement party at the Dragon. Brenda has been a governor of Wray Endowed school for many years, and has been chairman for at least 15.
During this time the school has thrived and prospered, and we hope it will continue to do so for many more years. Many thanks to Brenda for all her hard work and dedication, and well done to the PTA, the governors and the Dragon for a great party.

film inspired by wray scarecrows

2007-04-30T21:50:00.000+01:00

This film was made by my daughter, Sophie L. Agnew, last
year, inspired by the Festival which we visit every year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7fhVV9Jfu4
We have just come back from Wray and the standard of scarecrows
this year is, I'm sure, the best yet!
Graham

The story of Wray Fair and the Scarecrows on video

2006-10-15T08:26:00.000+01:00

Click here to see a video with David (the king of the scarecrows)describing how the festival started

Wray Festival video

2006-10-15T00:05:00.000+01:00

Click here to watch a video of the festival

Wray cricket team 1930

2006-09-04T10:59:00.000+01:00

Anybody know who they are? post in comments if you do!

Wray V Fells teams

2006-09-02T11:35:00.000+01:00

Contact Margaret if you want a high res version of these photos to print.
Add your comments about the day in the comments box!

Wray Village v Fells Cricket Match 2006

2006-09-02T11:29:00.000+01:00

Mrs Nicholls retires from Wray School

2006-07-24T14:49:00.000+01:00

Many tears were shed on the night of Wray School’s Annual Prize Giving, and Mrs. Nicholls’s Retirement ‘Do’, as it sunk in for many that Mrs Nicholls really was leaving Wray School.

The evening was held in the garden of the George & Dragon Pub, and began with a collection of musical talent, with flute and recorder players performing their well rehearsed pieces to an audience of more than one hundred past and present pupils, teacher and parents.

Natasha Halsey began with ‘Speed Bonny Boat’, followed by Tamsin Seed with ‘Oh Soldier Soldier’, both played on flute.

The audience were then treated to a rendition of the following songs by Wray School Recorder Group (Mary P., Megan D., Megan T., Anna W., Tara G and Amy H) who played three songs: ‘Land of the Silver Birch’, ‘Woofenbackers Boogie’, and ‘Cascudura Beguine’.

The music really boosted the evening, and got everyone in the mood for the anticipation of Prize Giving.

Prizes were awarded to Years One, Two, Three, Four and Five, followed by the Special Awards; the Handwriting Trophy was awarded to Edward Price and Tara Gurjal; the Sportsmanship Trophy was awarded to Ben Wallbank and Lois Reece; and the Football Trophy was awarded to Simon Dwight.

These Awards were not for one particular achievement, but instead being for what each pupil had achieved throughout their whole school lives.

After these Awards were presented, the Year Six Awards were finally given out, starting in alphabetical order from ‘W’!

Mrs Nicholls said some lovely comments on how all the pupils had changed over the years. The pupils looked shocked by Mrs. Nicholls’s stories, as Mrs Nicholls reminisced and remembered each pupil from so long ago.

Mrs. McFadden then led the pupils into song – and actions! – for ‘La Cocharacha’ and ‘Island in the Sun’., there was a Caribbean thread woven through these songs, and whilst it was obvious Mrs. McFadden and the pupils of Wray School had worked very hard to ensure the songs and actions were perfect, this was a perfect ending for the evening’s first interval where parents, teachers and pupils were able to grab refreshments and have a chat.

Part two of the evening’s Retirement ‘Do’ kicked off with a moving speech given by Brenda Mickle – Chair of Governors. It was obvious how much Mrs. Nicholls would be missed, and how much she is a highly valued and special friend, not just as one of the many unique Head Teachers Wray Endowed has ever experienced. Brenda also had some very nice words to say about the School’s current P.T.A. and pupils.

This speech was followed by a flute duet, performed by Natasha Halsey and Tamsin Seed, playing ‘Bertie’s Blues’ for the final time, stayed on stage and were joined by their fellow Year Six students who recited their speeches about Mrs. Nicholls aloud. Some heartfelt things mentioned, Mrs. Nicholls still did not shed a tear!

When all were seated once again, child representatives of the P.T.A. (Robs Whiteley and Natasha Halsey) presented Mrs. Nicholls with an array of gifts, including books and a watch (waterproof!), to name but a few. Teachers, friends, parents and pupils (past and present), all raised their glasses in a toast to Mrs. Nicholls in honour of all her hard work.

It was then that the children got on stage, and seized their chance to shine for the last time. Firstly, they sang S. Club’s ‘Reach for the Stars’, with soloists Megan Taylor, Lois Preece, Lizzie Robinson, Tamsin Seed, Natasha Halsey, Mary Perrins and Steph Allison. The children then moved on to sing ‘Wherever You Go’, by which time Mrs. Nicholls had seated herself before the stage. Soloists this time were Lois Preece, Natasha Halsey, Tamsin Seed and Lizzie Robinson. Written and composed by one of the School’s Music Teachers, with Sue McFadden, Singing Tutor of Wray School, leading pupils in song once more. When the song was over, the group had succeeded in making Mrs. Nicholls shed several tears., parents and pupils also found themselves crying!

The Supper was ready., everyone made sure to grab a plate of the delicious snacks on offer, provided by the parents and guests of Wray School’s pupils, and laid out beautifully by Mr. & Mrs. Taplin and staff of George & Dragon Pub.

The music then began to play, and the drinks continued to flow, as everyone enjoyed having a dance on the stage to Musical Entertainer Dave Carling. Mrs. Nicholls et al looked to be really getting into the swing of things and enjoying themselves together, as the closeness of the School and community as a whole was apparent.

It appeared all were having a good time, and when the fireworks were set off shortly after ten o’clock (by which time I had had to leave!), everyone had enjoyed a fantastic night.

We will all miss Mrs. Nicholls, and she will be long remembered for the great influence she has had on Wray School, her colleagues, pupils (past and present), and the community as a whole.

Missed – but never forgotten.

We wish you, Mrs. Nicholls, luck in all your future quests, and your year long round the world trip.

Reported by: Tamsin Alix Seed, aged 11.

Comments welcomed:
"Everything was delightful; it was quite emotional. I will miss Mrs. Nicholls very much." (Lizzie Robinson)

"A heartwarming and moving evening; I felt very welcome." (Bjorg - Jolene's mum)

Wray Fair Fell race videos

2006-05-06T21:26:00.000+01:00

Junior fell race video

Senior Fell race video

Samba band opens the fair video

Just click on a link to view the videos, highly compressed so you may have to play them twice to stream properly

Videos of the big parade

2006-05-04T08:13:00.000+01:00

Coming down the main street video

Arriving at the barn for the hog roast and firework display

Ruth's speech (Ruth and Freddie led the parade and are the village's oldest residents, they did a great job swanning down the street in a chauffer driven Bentley...)

Ruth's speech

2006-04-29T07:29:00.000+01:00

Ruth and Freddie presented the prizes to the winning scarecrows, Ruth made a wonderful speech, the samba band kept everyone rocking, it was a really good night.

more prizes

2006-04-29T07:28:00.000+01:00

guests of honour and prizegiving

2006-04-29T07:27:00.000+01:00

parade reaches the barn

2006-04-29T07:26:00.000+01:00

grand parade

2006-04-29T07:24:00.000+01:00

The grand parade led by Ruth and Freddie left the New Inn and proceeded down main street with the samba band playing. The giant scarecrows and all the kids danced to the barn where a massive bonfire and hog roast was waiting.

Wray Scarecrows welcome you to the blogspot

2006-04-26T20:47:00.000+01:00

Come and join us in the maddest festival of the year, the Annual Scarecrow Week at Wray.

Late addition...

2006-04-26T20:43:00.000+01:00

Keep sending photos in if they have been missed off the first shoot!
thanks to Pat for the contributions.

Photos of all the scarecrows here, enjoy...

2006-04-23T23:22:00.000+01:00

Nearly two hundred photos of scarecrows here on this blog, if yours isn't on please email it to me and I will add it on to the posting. If you would lik a high res version email me at scare(at)wrayvillage.co.uk, and please check the website for updates, link on left. Scroll down this page to see them all. Cheers.

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2006-04-22T21:33:00.000+01:00

Welcome to Wray, School children's scarecrows, Bill's team and Stella's scarecrow toolkit.

2006-04-22T21:31:00.000+01:00

Ray bites off more than he can chew, Flags of the world on Johns barn, Bill gets bodies out of boot, and slappers hit the red light district. More to come...

2006-04-22T20:53:00.000+01:00

The scarecrows are appearing.... Saturday April 22nd 2006, up go the flags. Watch this space.