News from Chris Robert's MBE PR Attending this year will be the original gleaming white Volvo car driven by Roger Moore as the TV sleuth, ‘The Saint’. This iconic sports car with the registration number ST1 made its debut on our TV screens over 50 years ago. Lovers of the late 1970s and early 1980s American television series, ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, will remember ‘The General Lee’. This famous car – straight off the film set – is a 1969 Dodge Charger driven by Bo and Luke Duke and named after Robert E Lee, general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It bears a Confederate battle flag on its roof and has a horn that plays the first 12 notes of the song ‘Dixie’. Other famous cars include a 1956 Morris Commercial affectionately known as ‘Mandy Morris’ from the TV series, ‘Heartbeat’; a 1972 MGB Roadster, which was previously owned by HRH Prince Philip’s personal pilot; plus, a 1926 six-wheeler recovery truck featured in the TV programme ‘Bangers & Cash’. For football fans, the Fairford Steam Show can offer you the chance to take a close-up look at the 1983 red Ferrari 308, originally owned by Liverpool Football Club and bearing the registration number 308 LFC! During the early 1980s, Liverpool FC was an unstoppable force, securing multiple First Division titles, League Cups and the European Cup. This specific Ferrari 308 is one of the most recognizable and highly prized sports cars of the 1980s. Last but in no way least, is the Volvo truck that was used by rock legends, ‘The Who’ in the 1970s. The specific model used by the band was the heavy-duty Volvo F88 290 and was highly prized by ‘The Who’ and other touring acts – such as Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush – for its reliability, power and comfort on long-haul European routes. It is now fully restored and makes only occasional appearances at vintage commercial vehicle events. If this vehicle could talk, it would certainly have a story to tell! A full procession of American vehicles will also take place to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence Day and will be led by a beautiful 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner used by Tennessee State Troopers. Children are also well catered for with a large fairground, Lego marquee and – new for 2026 – a Duck Hunt! Hunt the Rally Field for the hidden yellow ducks and win a prize! All this takes place over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday August 15 and 16 in the Lake Field, Fairford GL7 4BT. If you want a taster of what is to come over the weekend, the popular Steam-in-the-Square event will be back on the Friday night from 5pm. The Bull Hotel’s inside bar will be open in addition to an outside bar in Fairford’s Market Place and featuring real ale. Burgers and hot dogs will also be available to refuel those hungry steam engine drivers! To book your tickets or find out more about this popular annual community event, please visit: https://fairfordsteamshow.co.uk/.
What a fantastic evening! Despite high temperatures and one or two trivial national sporting fixtures the same evening, the church was full on Saturday evening to welcome the twenty or so talented musicians and vocalists of the North Swindon Big Band.The concert was an incredible cornucopia of delicious big band hits, ranging from the 1930s to present day. No less than 24 separate items were played, plus encore, encompassing a rich variety from soulful trumpet solo on Feelings, to timeless swing classics like It Don’t Mean a Thing, to the show-stopping vocals of Don’t Rain on My Parade and New York, New York.The Musical Director (who somehow managed to play the saxophone as well as directing), Karen Cordon, gave charming intros to each piece – not only giving a potted history of their inception but introducing us to the key members of the band who were due to shine in that particular item. Band members did amazing solo turns in the middle of pieces (trumpet, flugelhorn, drums, trombone, sax, organ…) to enthusiastic spontaneous applause from the listeners.There was plenty of toe tapping and swaying in time to the beat from the audience – even in our ancient pews - and more than one couple dancing the aisles.The evening was punctuated by a much-needed and well-managed “hydration break” (thank you David, Ingrid, Sally and others) - what a friendly bunch the band were, mingling with the audience and answering questions.A special shout out to the singers Pauline Richings and Graham Frampton, to the trumpeter Kevin Edwards, drummer Steve Carter and keyboardist Alan Cobb.Everyone I talked to thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the evening must be judged a resounding success. It was lovely to see a good representation from our congregation, but plenty of other faces as well – which is what Music at St Mary’s is all about. Thank you very much to Caroline and Jane-Emma and Alison, particularly for all the organisation. At the end Karen the MD gave a lovely farewell nod to Music at St Mary’s which I thought was a great reflection of the warm and generous attitude of this uplifting ensemble. Thank you and please come again!My favourite was New York, New York – what was yours?
Just in case you haven't found them, the sermons and readings are now on the website. These are audio versions of both Caroline's and Vicky's sermons together with the Bible reading references for the week in question and the article from the Parish Newsletter based on the readings written by either Caroline or Vicky. For those using a desktop layout the menu Sermons and Readings can be found in the right hand column under the Search button. If you are using a mobile phone the right hand column menus can be found at the end of an article. The button Sermons and Readings https://stmaryschurchfairford.org.uk/sermons-and-readings/ will take you to a page listing all the current sermons (from mid-September) from which you can select the one you wish to read and listen to.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this wonderful concert. To hear the Carducci perform once more in St. Mary's Church was already a gift, the value of which increased considerably with the addition of Roderick Williams’ beautiful voice. St. Marys was one of only eight venues across the UK to perform this interpretation of Schubert’s “die schöne Müllerin” and our wonderful acoustics and the intimacy of the setting made it truly magnificent. Roderick Williams expertly involved the audience in the story of the lovestruck young miller and swept us along by involving us intimately in every twist and turn of the folly of young love. The entire event made £6,695.50 and will contribute just shy of £3,500 after costs once all monies have been collected.
