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About the Society
Forthcoming St. Filica events
2009 AGM Report Added: March 14th, 2009
A Letter from the Chairman Added: March 13th, 2009
The Society's officers (2009-2010) Updated: March 13th, 2009
Annual distribution of Funds Added: November 18th, 2009
Anti Depression Ball 2009
Street Party 2009
Filkins feast 2009 Added: June 26th, 2009
Family fun Day 2008
Newsletter archive
Marquee Hire

The St. Filica Society

The St Filica Society aims to bring people together who share an interest in the well being of the local community. St Filica raises funds to support local causes, organizes events and produces an annual business calendar, as well as a monthly newsletter giving details of events and current village news.

The St Filica Society was formed 22 years ago. Its aim is to “have fun” by organizing events in the village. St Filica is a society and as such anyone can become a member. Membership is currently £1 per year. All the surplus money raised during the year is distributed to village organizations and goes towards projects they may be working towards. Membership entitles you to vote at our AGM in February on where and how much money is distributed to each bid. 
Some of the events we organize are the Filkins Feast, pig roast and entertainment, The Street Party, live music  and BBQ in the road outside the village hall and Filkins Summer Ball which is a black tie event for approx 120 people.  At Christmas we put up a Tree on the corner of the Churchyard at St Peters which lights up every evening in December. The lighting up ceremony follows a tour of the village by Father Christmas who gives a little present to all the children waiting at his stops. Every two years we also host the Filkins Festival which involves all the clubs in the village organizing an event usually held in July.
We also distribute a monthly newsletter, giving details of events and village news, and a calendar both of which are delivered to each household. The village website is also paid for by St Filica which tells you everything that is going on and a little local history as well.
St Filica is run by a small committee if you feel you would like to join us please give any of the committee a ring and have a chat.

Forthcoming St. Filica events

“Spirit of Filkins & Broughton Poggs”
Photographic Competition
Calling all aspiring David Baileys and Annie Leibovitzs.
The St Filica Society, as part of the Filkins Festival 2010, wants to capture the essence of the villages to show what an amazing place we have the good fortune to live in. The idea behind the competition is NOT to take the best picture of, for example, the Village Hall. Instead the Judges will be looking for creativity in the composition, which reflects the vibrancy of the village. There are no restrictions (other than on the grounds of decency) on the subject matter which can include people, animals, birds, buildings and landscape.
There are four categories and three age groups. The categories are Autumn, Winter,
Spring and Summer and the age groups are those who on 1st January 2010 are under
12, 12 – 18 and 19 and over. The winning photograph from each age group for each
category, happily providing us with 12 photographs, will be published in a calendar for
2011. This will be available to buy and thereby will solve lots of Christmas present dilemmas next year. Each of the 12 winners will receive a copy of the calendar and there will be a prize for the best photograph overall in each age group. Photographs will be displayed on the website and in the village during the Festival.
The category winners will be announced 3 weeks after each closing date and prizes will
be awarded at the Fun and Festivities weekend on 3 and 4 July 2010. The Judges will be talented photographers living in the villages who will not be eligible to enter the competition.
Their decision is final.
HOW TO ENTER
Click here to download entry form, also available from the Woollen Weavers, the Post Office and Our Village Shop. There is no restriction on the number of entries an individual can make. Only DIGITAL photographs can be entered.
The fee per entry is 50p for age 18 and under and £1 for 19 and over.
Please send your completed entry form and fee to Mrs Cris Hoad, Wynwood, Filkins, GL7 3JG Photographs should be emailed to photocompetition@filkins.org.uk and will be entered into the competition when the entry fee has been processed.
Closing date for entries is
MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2009 for “Autumn”
MONDAY 1 MARCH 2010 for “Winter”
MONDAY 10 MAY 2010 for “Spring”
MONDAY 28 JUNE 2010 for “Summer”

2009 AGM Report
Added: March 14th, 2009

Thank you to all 70 members who turned out for the AGM, a great night was had even though we were without the pub.
Thank you to Tony Woodford for all his hard work in 2008 and who gallantly handed his cap onto Avril Ingles.

The members voted for the distribution of money as follows:

• Five Alls Day Centre: £151
• Filkins Village Hall: £808
• Filkins Bowls Club: £273
• Filkins & Broughton Poggs Swimming Club: £379
• Swinford Museum: £350.

Now we are entering a new year for St. Filica I am afraid your membership money of £1 is now due. Clive Gould and Cris Hoad will be collecting it- if you can get it to us that would be great but please don’t avoid us in the street!!! We’re not that bad!!

Annual distribution of Funds

I am pleased to announce that we have enjoyed another year of successful events.  This will allow us, as in previous years, to distribute the surplus profit to causes deemed worthy by the members of the Society.  This year we have £1000.00 to distribute.   Applications are invited from any local club, society or organisation for a share of these funds. 
The application should be sent to Lisa Porter, Secretary, St Filica Society, 5 The Gassons, Filkins or member@fractaleyes.freeserve.co.uk to arrive no later than 8 JANUARY 2010.  Please provide the name and contact details of applicant, the organisation, the sum requested and, most importantly, an explanation of what the money will be used for and how it will be of benefit to the local community.
The decision on how the funds will be distributed will be made on 16 FEBRUARY 2010 at the AGM of the Society.  If you want to participate in that decision, please make sure you are a fully paid up member of the Society. 

Avril Inglis
Chairman

St Filica Anti-Depression Ball 2009

Saturday 4th July saw Filkins whipped back in time to the 1920’s.  From gangsters to their molls and flappers to “Biggles” they all arrived to sip their martinis and champagne.

Then a marvellous two course meal was served by Sadlers of Faringdon followed by some strong coffee….. gratefully received by a few! Judy Eames entertained with her seductive jazz and the dancing began- then the casino opened and much money was lost- did the depression return- absolutely not! The evening went so quickly but it was fantastic. Two tables have already booked for the next one in 2011.

So many thank yous to say so in fear of leaving anyone out: the decorations were fantastic (blowing up balloons at 11pm on Friday night is such fun……), flowers amazing, tablecloths and napkins were the final touch thank you to you all.

Thanks also to The St Filica committee for working for 5 long months on preparation, for having such a large stock of tentage and putting everything in the right place - and, of course all the boys for turning out on a rather steamy Wednesday night to put it all up- what they will do for beer! What would we do without them!

Here’s to 2011!!

Filkins Street Party

Well July 25th came and we all looked at the sky- would it stay clear or would we be drowned come 8pm – Graham Wiltshire turned up with The Same Old Faces and the sky turned blue- YES! The Street Party would be outside.

The music started at 8pm , the bar was opened, the coals were lit and a great night was had by all. Nearly 200 people attended and danced the night away- by mid night  the BBQ had sold out and the bar was nearly dry so I guess a good time was had by all....

In our quite gloomy summer we were glad of the respite for the night... here’s to a dry 2010.

Filkins Feast 2009

Fingers were crossed on Sunday 21st for a fine day to roast the pig and share a glass of wine and luckily it worked…
A few light showers did not dampen the day as everyone gathered on the paddock for a feast. The entertainment started with Richard Martin reading a poem written by Phil Dunmall from Broughton Poggs all about the Feast the a very fine pig was served while we listened to Highworth Silver Band.

The children were whisked away by Jake- who like the Pied Piper led them across the road; they followed intently probably because he was about 12’ tall at the time!

Prof Phil Milsom entertained the adults with a little history of Punch and Judy- do you know why there are always seven sausages on Punch’s string? Or where the term “slapstick” came from? We do!!!

Then the children returned to a Punch and Judy show- I am not sure who enjoyed it more the kids or the adults… I know who shouted loudest.

The afternoon finished off with the raffle and a big thank you to the “Raffle ladies” and the Gardening Club for the table decorations - in St Filica colours too.

If you have any photos of the afternoon please send them to Paul (webmaster@filkins.org.uk) so he can put them on the website - I got a bit carried away and forgot to take them.

Cris Hoad

Filkins Family Fun Day

12th July, 2008

Silence reigned over Broughton Poggs on the morning of the Family Fun day following the cancellation of the Fairford air show, but it was not to last as Elvis Duck and his followers took to the Brook at Broughton Poggs Mill for the annual Duck Race. Lots of people braved the slightly inclement weather to cheer their ducks on to the finish line. The first duck home in the heats won a prize and the first ten from each heat went through to the final and the prestigious chance of racing with Elvis.
Elvis himself had obviously been at the Pimms whilst waiting to race as he eventually came in 39th but he made someone’s day. A young lad who was staying in the area and had been bitterly disappointed when the air show had been cancelled but won a cash prize for guessing Elvis’ position in the race… Well done to him.

A climbing wall had also been erected in the Five Alls car park which proved very popular as did the lorry-shaped bouncy castle on the green.

They're under starters orders... and they're OFF!

There is a clear leader at Canal Turn

They become a little more spread out on the home straight...

... and then into the tunnel they go.

We have a clear winner!

Elvis Duck cooly looks on...

... though the Pimms definitely affected his performance.

Rescue teams were on hand in case any ducks were afraid of the dark

The climbing wall proved very popular

Almost there...

Ring that bell!!!

The Lorry bouncy castle was very popular as well

OK... Who let a tyre down?

and out they all slide!