Catherine's Congestion

A busy weekend, for sure. Friday night saw the private view of the Black Swan's Christmas Show, with works donated to help fund yet another financially-stricken Frome arts institution. The exhibits were of variable quality, but it seems a little churlish to criticise when the artists handed them over gratis. An automaton by Ralph Steadman was, inevitably, the major attraction. But Mrs Weekender and I were much taken with Alison Harper's textile pieces which resembled distressed frocks. Pinned to the wall, it was as if the wearers had just slipped out of them after a most hectic night's revels.

Onto the Oakfield Choir's Christmas concert at Christchurch on Saturday. Eschewing the usual carols and over-familiar seasonal fare, this was an ambitious, yet curious, programme. Entitled "A Frosty Christmas Eve", only two of the items had any Yuletide connections. The singing and playing was sometimes glorious, at other times ragged, but all power to them for avoiding the obvious and tackling such pieces as Saint-Saëns' 'Oratorio de Noël' and 'In Terra Pax' by Finzi.
Stars of the evening were undoubtedly tenor Andrew Dickinson, harpist Daniel de Fry and the sadly unidentifiable leader of the orchestra. Their performances alone were worth the two hours' discomfort, thanks to Christchurch's unforgiving pews. Oh, how we suffered for their art...

And so to Sunday's Artisan Market on Catherine Hill - packed with locals and visitors: a rip-roaring success, you might think. But it was so packed that at times it was impossible to get up or down the Hill. I'm sure traders lost out, because at the narrowest points if you merely stopped to investigate what was on offer you immediately created a tailback. As one stall holder said to us - why not extend it up into Catherine Street where the road is wider? Or are there traffic management issues there? Another plan might be to make the Hill one way for pedestrians during events like this. But, hopefully, plenty of jam and jewellery was sold before the rains came...

http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk

http://www.oakfieldchoir.co.nr

http://www.blackswan.org.uk

Breaking The Chains

Frome has gained a reputation for its independent retailers. Even the so-called Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, has been to visit. And the privately-owned antiques, vintage clothes, CDs, crafts, books and gifts emporia are undoubtedly one of the town's great attractions. Venture a few steps away from the over-familiar brands of Market Place (Boots, Costa, Superdrug, Iceland etc) - up the steep, winding Catherine Hill or across to Cheap Street (with its rill or 'leat' running down the middle) - and you're in a different world.

But in the current climate, how much money are they making? When times are hard, "discretionary spend", we are told, is the first to go. A shabby chic table - or food on the table? A 1940s skirt  - or petrol in the Skoda? I do hope the unique retail mix that is here will survive the downturn. But I do wonder...

http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk
http://www.maryportas.com