The Light Ships launch

Last Saturday was windy and cold. A good part of my drive from Nottingham to Whaplode was through torrents of rain, but as I got closer, the weather grew calmer and I grew more anxious about The Light Ships event. It’s been many years since I’ve organised anything quite like this and I wasn’t confident about how many people would brave the early breath of winter or what they’d think of it all if they did.

With the stalwart help of Lauren Williams and Kristina Taylor at Transported, and one or two local friends, the exhibition had been installed on Friday afternoon. It included drawings by Rosie Redzia, woollen sculptures by knitting groups, photographs by Tony Quinton, amateur paintings gathered by Mary Brice of Moulton, new and archive films, and a recreation by Jo Wheeler of the Bus Fayre from her Village Postcard project. But the principal exhibit was the wonderful church of St Mary’s at Whaplode, whose nave was begun about 890 years ago: I wanted the exhibition to enrich the building not obscure it.

Music was made with organ recitals by Tony Fitt-Savage and Tim Galley and the bellringers of Whaplode, and generous hospitality provided in the form of tea and cakes by the church community. The rain kept off. People came and the atmosphere was warm (despite the weather). There was even a rainbow…

These photos give a lovely sense of the occasion. They were taken by Steve Hatton at Electric Egg for Transported, and I’m grateful to them for permission to include them here.

The Light Ships will be presented at 3.00pm on Saturday 22 November 2014 at Wrangle church and at the same time the following Saturday (29 November ) at Gosberton church – and anyone is most welcome to come along. The book will be available to download from this site shortly and copies can be ordered from Transported (it costs £5, plus postage).

Holbeach St. Marks Community Association Building, Sluice Road, Holbeach St. Marks, Lincolnshire PE12 8HF

Tel 01406 701006 Email: TransportedLauren@litc.org.uk