I’ve helped out with the official photos on the biannual FEFF since its inception in 2005. The organisers do an incredible job and a huge amount of work making this perhaps the biggest event of its kind in our area – partying, boogying, music, food and drink, arts and crafts, competitions, army vehicles, zorbing, etc etc etc. Too much to describe here so check out my photo gallery from the Fen Edge Family Festival 2011 long weekend event here for a taster. The full gallery including photos by the rest of the photographic team (Claire Haigh, Clive Thomson, Tim Lihoreau (up at the crack of dawn) and others can be found here.
This year’s festival was a bitter-sweet affair however. My daughter and I sang and played with our choir The TyrranoChorus on Saturday lunchtime to a packed and apparently appreciative marquee (hopefully photos to follow). Sadly, my family and I were unable to attend the final day of FEFF11, as Sunday saw the demise of much-loved family member John “Gramps” Cross (1937-2011). Gramps had made it to at least “story number 758” in the tales of his rich and varied life, which took him from childhood in Colchester to a scholarship at Bedford School, military service in Hong Kong at the height of the Cold War, training as a lawyer, time as a sales rep, publisher and manager of the family business, Cullingford’s of Colchester, and retirement to Aldeburgh and the golf captaincy at Thorpeness and a love-hate relationship with Maggie Hambling’s Scallops.
He served out more than his allotted three-score years and ten and died peacefully with his family around him. His departure from his home in Aldeburgh (“In-laws-on-Sea” is not half a mile from those Scallops) witnessed the rolling sea fret recede and the emergence of a glorious sunset. Gramps leaves his widow, four children and four grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by family and friends who will now not hear “story number 759”.
Sunday evening for FEFF11 was dedicated to village stalwart and great friend Tim Eade with performances by BigMouth, VoxPop and Shredded Beat in tribute to his life and his part in making the FEFF what it is today.