Helpston Beerfest

25 March, Helpston Village Hall

Helpston Beerfest was back again, raising money for two local charities – Little Miracles and Friends of John Clare school.

Even with the mixed weather on the day, this did not stop the Beer drinking community coming from far and wide to sample one of the 12 ales available. The Beerfest is proud to champion local breweries from the local area (all within a 10-mile radius). In addition to the beer, our Wobbleboard and Shuffleboard games proved a big success with our younger community.

Its fair to say that this year was the most successful so far, with total money raised amounting to £4600 (which includes fantastic match funding support from BGL Group Peterborough) . The great turn out and support from our sponsors

Nola Crowson, 90

Village life in Helpston has always been central to Nola Crowson, who celebrated her 90th birthday in April.

A birthday party was held at the Village Hall hosted by the ‘Knitter Natter’ Group, which was attended by many old friends. Joining Helpston WI in 1965, Nola held the offices of Press Secretary, Treasurer, President (twice), as well as being on the committee for many years. A first class organiser she was very involved with putting on the annual shows which were popular for many years and raised money for a Pensioners’ event. A busy mother of two, Stephen and Michael, grandmother to six and a great grandmother to seven, Nola has had, and continues to have, a full life.

She met her husband, George, through family links to Helpston where her grandma, and Aunt Em lived down the Golden Drop. She knew the village well from an early age of making visits here from her hometown of Northampton.

Joining St Botolph’s church choir at the time Rev Brian Blade came to be Rector of Etton with Helpston, she was a member until 15 months ago. She played a big part in raising funds for the church restoration project when the building needed thousands of pounds to make urgent repairs. Still a regular churchgoer and firm Christian, Nola was confirmed at St John’s in Cathedral Square, Peterborough, along with Grace Murphy (nee Ingram), on a snowy December day in 1963.The pair are now close neighbours. made this achievable, and we thank you all for your support.

After her wedding to George in 1957 at All Saints’ Northampton (where John Clare used to sit in the porch when allowed out from the Asylum), the couple lived initially with his parents, later moving to 91 Glinton Road, where the boys were brought up and she remained until; moving to the Almshouses in 2015. After the death of her mother, she had her father, Walter Osborne to live who remained with the family for twenty years until his death. Thinking about changes to the village, Nola, of course well remembers the Arborfield Paper Mill, now a housing estate. Amazingly she was able at one time to take her baby in the pram on the train to Peterborough, catching the train from Helpston Station!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped in the organising and running of this event, from the Beerfest committee – Hope to see you all next year!

Pictured left: A ‘royal’ wave from Nola Crowson of Helpston who got a nostalgic ride round the villages in Joe Dobson’s vintage Citroen prior as part of her 90th birthday celebrations in April.

Pictured right: After a trip around the villages in a vintage Citroen, Nola Crowson of Helpston had a big surprise. Her friends from the Knit & Natter’ Group and many other friends from the village gathered to help her celebrate her 90th birthday. They are pictured following a happy time of talking over old times and eating a lot of cake!

George was also well known in the village. Following an apprenticeship at Brotherhoods, and a spell doing National Service, he worked at the Mill and later at Perkins.

Now, at 90, Nola is reluctant to put her feet up. She keeps walking, and busy with her family. A member of the Helpston Belles and the Knitter Natter Group, she is a lady well loved and respected in her villlage who is still playing an active part. May she roll on to the 100!