We’re getting very excited about the Victoria Fountain switch-on tomorrow. The short ceremony will start at 2pm with singing from the Dagger Lane Singers and, after the switch-on, they will lead us all in some special Fountain songs to familiar old tunes. So, here are some words to bring with you on your phone. Victoria Fountain to the tune of Santianna 1. There was a fountain long ago VICTORIA FOUNTAIN We have a few old photos to show – AND IT’S TIME TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN SWITCH IT ON LET THE WATER PLAY – VICTORIA FOUNTAIN MAY IT SPLASH FREELY FOR MANY A DAY – AND IT’S TIME TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN 2. Discussions produced an idea fine – VICTORIA FOUNTAIN To raise the money and bide their time AND IT’S TIME TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN CHORUS – SO SWITCH IT ON LET THE WATER PLAY – VICTORIA FOUNTAIN MAY IT SPLASH FREELY FOR MANY A DAY – AND IT’S TIME TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN 3. Ceilidhs, raffles, yard sales, tombolas Pottery, Quizzes at Larkins Bar 4. Larkin and water was the theme Lost Art talent realised the dream 5. The Trustees laboured near 13 years Through setbacks, Covid, toils and tears 6. And now at last, let the water play May it splash freely for many a day SO SWITCH IT ON LET THE WATER PLAY – VICTORIA FOUNTAIN! MAY IT SPLASH FREELY FOR MANY A DAY – AND IT’S TIME TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN Victoria Fountain to the tune of Drunken Sailor 1. What shall we do for Victoria Fountain? What shall we do for Victoria Fountain? What shall we do for Victoria Fountain? Earlye in the morning! 2. Hold a quiz, a meal and a ceilidh Hold a quiz, a meal and a ceilidh Hold a quiz, a meal and a ceiligh Earlye in the morning! 3. Hold yet another Trustees Meeting 4. Make some souvenirs and sell them 5. Book Ted Key and the hillibillies 6. Get Jacky to design a tea towel 7. Get Carrie to throw some pottery 8. Organise another poetry reading 9. Get ‘Lost Art’ to work its magic 10. Find a good quote from Philip Larkin 11. Time to switch on Victoria Fountain / Time to enjoy Victoria Fountain

The fountain arrived on Tuesday. We are really pleased with it and we hope you’ll think it was worth the wait. The Switch On Celebration will definitely go ahead on Saturday 8th July and starting at 2pm will include music by the Dagger Lane Singers, a reading of Philip Larkin’s poem ‘Water’ (the first line of which runs round the central column of the fountain) and our MP, Dame Diana Johnson, will announce the switching on of the water After the water has been switched on, there will be more music from the Dagger Lane Singers and they would love you to join them in singing one or two fountain themed songs (specially adapted for the occasion!) Please be aware that the roads around the fountain will not be closed during the celebration We have arranged for volunteer marshals to alert drivers to the fact that there is a community event in progress, but please be mindful of traffic and particularly careful not to let children stray Into the road. We thank you for your support and your patience and hope that you will enjoy seeing the fountain in action.

Lost Art are making great progress with painting and assembling the fountain (see latest photo attached) and although we're still not absolutely certain, we are increasingly confident that it will be in place and ready for a street celebration on 13th May. We'll keep you updated.

Lost Art are making good progress with the painting of the fountain and although they are still not able to give us a definite delivery date, they have told us that provisionally arranging a 'Water Switch On' Celebration for Saturday, 13th May, is realistic. We will update you again as soon as we have certainty about a Celebration date, but meanwhile, please pencil 13th May into your diary. Best wishes to you all and thank you for your patience.

Yesterday Ashcourt started excavating for the foundations of the new fountain and today they've uncovered the remains of the original fountain. You can clearly see the octagonal walls of the old pool and some of the quarry tiles which lined it.

The wooden fountain has now been dismantled and removed from the roundabout and we're a bit sad about that, BUT the reason we've removed it is because our building contractors are going to start on the preparation work for the real fountain tomorrow morning. We still don't have a definite date for delivery of the fountain, but we're pushing for one and will let you know as soon as we get it. IT REALLY WON'T BE LONG NOW!

Our contractors, Ashcourt, are still waiting for permits to work on the roundabout, but once they are ready to start work, we will need to remove the wooden fountain. It’s been a great tool for attracting attention to our project and has served us very well, but we will have no further use for it when it is removed. If you, or anyone you know, has sufficient space and would be interested in having it, please contact us. The fountain is 3 metres high and just over 4 metres across at the base. It dismantles into four pieces, each 3 metres by 2 metres. We can help and supervise the dismantling and re-assembly but ideally, we would like anyone who takes it to arrange its transport. The fountain has been in place continuously since October last year and the bottom panels have suffered slightly from sustained exposure to the weather, so we recommend that anyone interested has a close look at it before expressing an interest. Best wishes to you all and thank goodness it’s cooling down!