Glow in the Park was hailed an enormous success as Frome hosted the first audience to witness a live drone display in the Southwest at The Old Showfield last weekend. Frome Town Council yet again demonstrated its ability to punch higher than its weight by hosting this spectacular as the finale of this year’s Apple Day celebrations.
Mayor Andy Wrintmore, who kicked of the event by ceremonially leading a Blossom Circle planting said of the whole event: “It was simply a fantastic display from the entire Frome community. The Blossom Circles honoured the very best of this community; not only our well-loved charities, also the people just getting on and improving their neighbourhoods, and the lives of their neighbours. The Apple Day activities were the usual excellent mix of apple pressing, planting and all things harvest like and then the drones were just the most amazing spectacle from the most amazing new Frome company.”
“There are many thankyous of course: to the Cricket Club, the Collegians, The Frome Agricultural Society, Selwood School and the Medical Practice for supporting the event and generously lending their spaces. As well as to all the talented contractors such as Nomad Audio. Finally, of course, Celestial – we know that they are heading for really great and exciting things and thank them for their creativity and ingenuity.”
The drone display saw 280 drones float majestically across the sky and move into a series of moving shapes and pictures accompanied by a poem set to music. Previously, Celestial had recorded drone displays for high-profile audiences such as Edinburgh Hogmanay, Friends of the Earth, and the Eden project but this was their first display in front of a live audience.
John Hopkins, one of the founding directors of Celestial said: “The team at Celestial are thrilled to have had the chance to create a ground-breaking show for their hometown of Frome. The audience were amazing, and the feedback has left us buzzing. We could feel the love in the air that night. Huge thanks to Arts Council UK and Frome Town Council for the opportunity.”
The poem, ‘Frome Together,’ written by Laura Hales, was written as an anthem for Frome and its strength in community. It was recorded by children across the Frome schools and then edited to create the soundtrack.
The triumph of the ‘Glow in the Park’ event can only be capped for Frome Town Council by the knowledge that this week they were also awarded the Quality Gold Award which recognises them as a achieving a standard of excellence across all criteria for the community. This is a national award given by the National Association of Local Councils.
Leader of the Council, Andy Palmer, said: “I could not be prouder. This event shows what a combination of ambitious councillors and a highly motivated and skilled staff team can achieve, and the gold award reflects that.”
Frome Rotary joined together to support steward the event. They also ran the bucket collections, and it’s not too late to support so if you enjoyed the display please give generously:
- Text the word GLOWFROME (caps not necessary) followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70085.
Texting glowfrome3 to 70085 will donate £3, glowfrome5 will donate £5 etc…. to a max of £20
The collection will then be split amongst a number Frome charities who supported the collection on the night. They include Fair Frome, The Christmas Get Together, The Pod, Active and in Touch, Frome Town Band, Frome Carnival, The Missing Link and Collegians Football club – all these organisations do great work in Frome.
Following the great event, a big thank you needs to go to the town’s Litter Warriors who were out early on Sunday to clear the site.
Glow in the Park was a partnership event by Frome Town Council and the Arts Council, with the bulk of the costs being donated in kind by Celestial.
Frome together (the poem accompanying the drone show)
As we stand side by side
cast your mind back
to a time like no other
when with bravery
we united beneath a rainbow.
We might have fallen apart
but instead, sowed seeds of comfort
and like the trees beside us
with love and care we tended them
to last our lifetimes and beyond.
Ground to the earth
we lay foundations for tomorrow
and from those small acorns,
a kaleidoscope of ideas,
forests of courage grow.
We hold out our hands
like a cradle of branches and
lift one another out of the dark.
Standing shoulder to shoulder
radiating hope.
We build bridges of kind words
across stormy seas.
A complexity of colours shifting
like the leaves against sunlight
a celebration that we are made differently.
Harnessing sparks of energy
we feel the power of community.
Like the bark of weathered trees,
multifaceted, perfect
in our imperfection.
Nurtured, yet untamed,
resilient spirit rises
like roots through concrete
vibrantly and unashamedly
transforming the landscape.
The circles of blossom
now rooted in this soil
honour and recognise
our strength, our community.
We face uncertainty, with unity.
Take comfort when
imaging the future, our legacy.
And let the test of time show
once again, what can be achieved
for the planet and humanity.
And as the years pass
always remember
that together
we make Frome
feel like home.
