FINANCIAL support for a regional event being held in Tavistock next year was given a thumbs up by members of the town council last week. Tavistock and District branch of the Embroiderers? Guild is to host a regional festival to mark the centenary of the organisation, an event which will see a variety of national and international celebrations. In a letter to the council, Susan Reynolds, chairman of the Tavistock guild, said the festival on July 8 would be attended by the president of the guild and some 250 members from the south of England. It would feature eminent embroiderers and some internationally known lecturers. Mrs Reynolds said the festival was a one-day event, but the group was encouraging participants to stay longer and enjoy workshops and tours in the area. She said: ?We hope that other events in the town around this time, including jazz in the park and the carnival, will also tempt our visitors to stay longer. ?The festival is an honour for our town and we hope the town council will be able to support the event, which has the potential to bring new visitors to the area.? Mrs Reynolds said the guild would be mailing information about Tavistock to guild members elsewhere in the country to highlight the town?s attractions. The group also needed to organise prizes for the festival?s junior and adult competitions. ?It would be very much appreciated if the town council could donate a special prize to the adult winner, which would be a memento of the Tavistock Festival. ?If at all possible, we would like to give small tokens to all the entrants in the junior competition ? we have a flourishing junior branch in Tavistock and our young people have been delighted with the small rewards given at festivals in Bristol, Salisbury and Yeovil.? Mrs Reynolds also asked if the council would be able to help the guild with postage costs. Cllr Norma Woodcock at last week?s meeting of the council?s finance committee said the festival would be a prestigious event for Tavistock and deserved support. ?I would like to suggest we offer a sum of money ? I would certainly like to think there was a prize, something appropriate, we could donate,? she said. Town mayor Cllr Jenny Metcalf said she particularly liked the idea of providing all the young competition entrants with a memento of the festival. The committee agreed that in principle, the council should support the festival financially. Members asked the town clerk to contact the embroiderers? guild to find out how much money the organisation required regarding postage costs. The decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday.
