Massey's Folly Society Newsletter Jun 2006
[Back to Headlines]

MASSEY'S FOLLY TO APPEAR ON THE BBC ON THE 28TH JULY 2006

MFPT Newsletters 2006

Apr

May

June

July

October

2007

July

October

December

2008

Massey's Folly Provisional Floor Plans

April Consultation Meeting Rep

September AGM report

2009

February

After months of speculation, we have finally heard that Massey's Folly will appear on the BBC on the 28th July 2006.
As many of you will know from watching the programme previously, the country is split into regions and each region has three properties. The winner of each regional programme goes into the final and the runner up with the highest number of votes, also appears in the final. Consequently, given that there are seven regions this year, there will be eight programmes in the series and the final will be in late September 2006.
Massey's Folly is in the very first programme to be aired and will have two competitors. One is quite local to us, we understand and the other is in Wiltshire, as far as we know. The producers and the BBC are quite cloak and dagger about all of this and want us to enjoy the surprise of the film about our building as well as the competitor properties.
We are sure that you will agree that it is unlikely that a building as unique as Massey's Folly will be in the competition. Given that the programme is also to be about village life, the setting of the Folly within this village could not have made for more perfect filming. Given the numbers of you who helped to make the film, for which again our thanks, we do hope that you will be able to persuade family and friends and perhaps your entire contact/e-mail list to vote for the building so that we can have the best chance of winning the programme and the prize. The sum on offer will go a long way to meeting the cost of restoration.

The vote line number is: 09013 600 500
and can be used after the programme has been screened on the 28th July 2006.

Calls from a BT landline will cost I but the cost for calls from other networks and rnobiles may vary.
More than 75p from each call will go to the Restoration Fund (charity no 1098895) to help restore
the winning building, provided that the winner fulfils the conditions
set out by the Trustees of the Restoration Fund

FARRINGDON FUN DAY & BBC ROADSHOW 29TH JULY 2006

Immediately after the Restoration programme is screened, the public will be invited to come and see the Folly the next day, Saturday the 29th July 2006. That date will also appear in all of the publicity that will be released by the BBC from the IOthJuly2006 onwards. The BBC have asked us to stage an event to entice visitors to come and be entertained whilst taking in the Folly. We are encouraged to do all that we can to gain support from those attending to vote for the building. With just six weeks notice, we have plans underway for a Farringdon Fun Day that we hope will provide interest and entertainment for all. It is proposed that we have three venues. The first is of exhibitions to the rear of the Folly. The second is in Church Road and up the village green and outside the Manor House. The third is the field opposite East View Gardens. Street entertainment, miniature bus rides and pony and carriage rides are also planned around the village.
We will also have the great pleasure of the Aldershot & District Omnibuses Rescue & Restoration Society double decker giving rides from Alton Station to Church Road Upper Farringdon every hour from 10.45amto 12.45pm and then from Upper Farringdon to Alton Station every hour from 2.10pm until 4.10pm. You can of course take a ride on the return journeys and stay on the bus for the round trip! These trips will be free of charge. We are most grateful to the chairman of the Society, Ray Lemesurier-Foster, for his kind co-operation in enabling this to happen. Ray is already advertising the Fun Day wherever his bus goes!
What to expect on the day:
Dog Show - Horse Show - Vintage Cars - Michael Owen's Jaguar - Falconry Display - Art and Gift Exhibition - Live entertainment -Stalls - Food - Cream Teas - Fun games in and
out of the main ring - inflatables - exhibitions - competitions (including one to win a brand nev
car!) and much, much more!

Brian & Steph have agreed to run a shorter menu through the day to provide us with baguettes, sandwiches, ploughman's and salads as we will have outside catering facilities to provide for more general needs. Brian will also be running a beer tent.
All stands/exhibitors will be making a donation to the funds for Massey's Folly.
We arc in discussion with the Police seeking to close part of Church Road outside the Folly and Crows Lane to all but residents. We have had the kind offer of fields for parking in Gaston Lane and Hall Lane. Our thanks to Paul Andersen and the Rowe's for this.
This day is a celebration of our appearance on the BBC and of life in this village so please come along and bring your family and friends along to enjoy the day. We hope to end it with music, a hog roast (ticketed with tickets available from the Rose & Crown) and a chanty auction to raise money for the Folly.
The timing for the event will be 10.30am until late as we will finish after the hog roast and char-ity auction have taken place.
Please Do All Come And Enjoy

ALL MONIES RAISED FROM THE FUN DAY WILL GO TOWARD THE FOLLY RESTORATION FUND.
DONATIONS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO
THE MASSEY'S FOLLY PRESERVATION TRUST Registered Charity No.1113790

MIKE'S TAKE ON THE BBC

It was an unexpected pleasure to be invited (and to be free) to participate in filming the scenes for the forth-coming BBC series 'Restoration Village'.
As an 'extra' - with two others- we were involved all day (with a splendid lunch at the Rose & Crown courtesyof Endemol, the production company mak-ing the series for the BBG) and we were equipped with full costume (including footwear), make-up and full co-operation from the (professional) camera team.
We three ('musketeers') were to portray the workers press-ganged to serve the Rev Masse/s building of the Folly, I was the 'favoured' foreman and carpenter, George Gilbert, while Donna's brother portrayed the bricklayer, Henry Adams and the third was a 'humble labourer'. For his loyal service, George Gilbert was given, by Rev Massey, the dwelling now known as Gilbert's Cottage in Church Road.
The fact that the building of the Folly extended over several decades meant that several alterations to costume and makeup had to be achieved during filming around the Folly, the Church and Tim Charrington's cottage.
Together with a modest cast of three professional actors, we extras sporting clothes less than favoured by Tailor and Cutter' and well stuck on accessories such as moustaches and beards were widely observed within Upper Farringdon and the Rose & Crown. Fortunately, few residents recognised us!
As always, filming was a long day but meeting so many others involved and with oodles of refreshment deom from Marianne Prynne's kind facilities, it was greatly relished and enjoyed!

Mike Flndlay

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

As you may imagine, staging an event such as the Fun Day at short notice needs a dedicated team of people to help to bring ideas to fruition.
Whilst many people will be coming in from outside to provide for catering, entertainment and exhibitions we still have an enormous amount to do.
We have had kind offers of help from many people in the village already but we need more people.
If you think that you could spare the time to help or would like to run a stall then please contact Donna Corbin on 01420 588644.
If you have any equipment that you think might help such as marquees, tents, bunting, generators, signs etc. please also ring Donna Corbin on the above number.
We have just 4 short weeks. Please do not wait, make a call today and help us to make the 29th
July 2006 a day to remember!

YOUR CONTRIBUTION MAY HELP US WIN 3M OF FUNDING

Remember, the vote line number is: 09013 600 500
and can be used after the programme has been screened on the 28th July 2006.

Email: donna.corbin@btopenworld.com or marysroberts@btinternet.com

[Back to Headlines] [Top]