'Over the Rainbow' is an initiative to mark the first anniversary of the floods in Tewkesbury and to demonstrate how the town has moved on and is very much open for business! There will be activities for everyone, culminating in the main event on Sunday 20th July 2008 (To download our flyer with event info, click here.)
Stop using the ‘F’ word! - Canon Paul Williams (Vicar, Tewkesbury Abbey)
Of course you would expect the Vicar of Tewkesbury Abbey to be against swearing, but it’s not that ‘F’ word that I’m talking about! It’s that other ‘F’ word, the FLOOD word. It’s been on our lips and in our minds for very important reasons and, rightly, we demand that our concerns are tackled by our politicians and policy makers. But for us, who have lived through the best of times and the worst of times, it’s now time to draw a line under the great flood of 2007 and move on.
We can hardly ‘celebrate’ the first anniversary of the floods. How can you ‘celebrate’ people being driven out of their homes and businesses, loss of life and, for many, a loss of dignity and security? Yet, many of us are aware that the media spot-light will return, once again and all too briefly, to the floods on the first anniversary, 20th July, and we need to be ready. Ready to tell not only the story of what happened, but where we are now and where we hope to go.
‘Over the Rainbow: Tewkesbury back in business’ tries to do just that! By having a series of events surrounding the first anniversary we want to show the nation and the world our positive spirit during and after the flood, and that we are back in business! Naturally, we recognise that other places were flooded, but Tewkesbury received, for whatever reason, substantial media attention, and not all of it has proved helpful. In fact, some of it has hindered our recovery. So, in the next few weeks you will see more about ‘Over the Rainbow: Tewkesbury back in business’ - keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to act for Tewkesbury - Tewkesbury need YOU!