The Club resumed it’s Tuesday meetings in-person from the 27th of July. Last week marked another return to normality as we had our first invited speaker, Lucy Iaquaniello, chair Alford Town Promotions (ATP) accompanied by the organisations secretary, Lizze Arrowsmith.
In 2018 Alford’s Christmas lights hit a new low and there was a general feeling that it was time to resurrect the annual Christmas event and generally do more to promote Alford on the internet and bring people into the town centre. In 2019 a group of Town Councillors, local businesses and volunteers set up a new group, Alford Town Promotions, to raise money for new Christmas lights and a Christmas event in the town centre.
Since then, not withstanding the pandemic, ATP have staged many events and fundraisers including an Easter Egg Trail, Bike Night, Busking Festival, Race Night (with members of our club volunteering to run the Tote) and the very successful Alford Christmas Spectacular in 2019 which our club was able to support with Santa’s Grotto.
Alford’s Christmas Lights in 2018 Alford’s Christmas Lights in 2019 Christmas Spectacular 2019 Rotary in Santa’s Grotto
ATP become a Community Interest Company (CIC) last November and runs it’s own fundraising shop at 23 Market Place. The volunteer run shop has proven popular as locals know that the proceeds will be reinvested into Alford Christmas Lights, events and promotions.
We all recognise the High Street is struggling against the trend to shop online, and the pandemic has only made matters worse, so it’s great to see such an active group working hard to bring people into Alford. We look forwards to supporting ATP whenever the opportunity arrives.