Remembering A Special Year

"A resounding success" - that was the verdict cast by representatives of Letchworth's many clubs and societies on the town's year-long Centenary celebrations!

Gathering at Plinston last night (10 Dec), hard-working community volunteers were treated to an 'end of term' supper, a live swing band and some edited highlights from the Garden City's 100-year birthday bash.

The spotlight was very much on the 110 events held throughout the year and the organisations and volunteers behind them.

Leading the congratulations, Heritage Foundation Director General and the event host, Stuart Kenny paid tribute to the "massive team effort of outstanding proportions" right across the four corners of the town.

Presentations by Ros Allwood (Letchworth Museum & Art Gallery), Kate Thompson (Letchworth Arts & Leisure Group), Gwyn Howard (Lawrence Cloisters Trust Ltd), Christine Staddon (St Paul's Church), Keith Lander (SPADS), John Cleghorn (Cleghorn Waring), Nick Skinner (St Christopher School) and Andrew Rawnsley (North Hertfordshire CAMRA) clearly summarised the key events of 2003 including:

• Centenary Art and Exhibitions
• The Garden City Greenway
• BBC2's 'Restoration' series
• Radio 4's 'Any Questions? '
• The opening of Broadway Gardens
• Schools' Tree Planting
• Centenary Walks and Talks
• The republication of Ebenezer Howard's legendary literary work
• Heritage Open Days - 30 heritage and historic buildings throughout Letchworth
• Church Flower Festivals
• SPADS 'Palace of Varieties '
• Arcadians 50th anniversary exhibition and concert
• 'Where Shall I live?' theatre production and workshop
• The 'Woofyt' schools music project
• Centenary sports programme including the Sportathon
• Centenary Music including Make A BIG Noise and major concerts by Letchworth Garden City Band, the Letchworth Sinfonia and The
• Letchworth Chorale.
• The Centenary Ale