Bideford 500, a voluntary group that champions Bideford’s history over the last 500 years; a history that the people of Bideford can and should celebrate at every opportunity.
As Project Co-ordinator for Bideford 500 Sadie planned, managed, and delivered three hugely successful Heritage Days in Bideford town from 2010-2012. These Heritage Days recognised Bideford’s unique and special Elizabethan Heritage and delivered an event for and by the community, bringing this important history to the public’s attention for the very first time. The Heritage days grew and evolved as more local people participated and became a programme of activity throughout the year, culminating in a large celebratory day in Bideford.
The Heritage days included an Elizabethan parade through the streets led by Lord of the Manor, Sir Richard Grenville, with his North Carolinan American native ‘Manteo’; Elizabethan costume-making workshops; jousting and combat displays; rope-making, map-making and ceramics workshops; performances and workshops by musicians and artists; school drama, dance and music performances; guided walks; Elizabethan food and drink and recipes and Elizabethan Living history, re-creating everyday life.
Special projects included students from the College of Further Education designing and re-creating trade signs for shop windows.
Sadie was instrumental in developing the organisation’s connectivity to the local community and created an audience and a thirst for participation. She pioneered partnership working with schools; community and voluntary groups; town centre businesses; musicians, artists and performers and the Town Council. She also created many voluntary opportunities and recruited and managed lots of volunteers.
