Celebrating 20 years

Working for our town and community

We are delighted to announce that Higham Ferrers Tourism, Business and Community Partnership, which has helped shape life in the town, has just celebrated two decades of community service.

Thousands of hours of volunteer work that our members have devoted to their projects have entertained, educated, and played a key role in preserving the town’s unique history.

And when members and our guests gathered at The Duchy Barn Garden for their 20-year anniversary party, there was one name that we paid tribute to.

The late Anna Sauntson, founder of Higham Ferrers Tourism, Business and Community Partnership

Remembering our founder ...

That was founder, the late Councillor Anna Sauntson, one of the town’s longest serving councillors with more than 35 years’ service and who was the Mayor for three terms.

“The Tourism Committee was the brainchild of Anna. Anyone who knew Anna knew that she was interested in heritage,” said founder member, Pam Whiting.

Anna researched what Higham Ferrers-born Archbishop of Canterbury Henry Chichele meant to the town and “she wanted people to visit, and we have to thank her for putting Higham Ferrers on the map.”

The Reverend Paul Needle, a member of St Mary’s Church ministry team, said that anyone who knew Anna would have known that she would have achieved what she set her mind to.

The gathering raised their glasses to the memory of the founder, who was also the first chairperson, who died in May 2021.

Looking back ...

Chairpersons past and present outlined their achievements down the years, which included some notable projects such as raising funds to restore the town’s five ancient charters and bye laws, which had fallen into disrepair. They are now restored and held in The Northampton Record Office, with replicas in local schools, the Bede House, Chichele College and the Town Hall.

To find out more about the charters visit the Higham Ferrers Charters website

Members of the Higham Gateway Club

Working with English Heritage ...

Committee member Carol Fitzgerald praised Simon Wiles, who had been treasurer for 14 years, for his ingenious idea in successfully suggesting to English Heritage – which cares for the 15th Century Chichele College - to establish a partnership agreement for the day-to-day management of the college.

The agreement involves Higham Tourism, and the Chichele College Management Team comprised of representatives of HiFARS (Higham Ferrers Archaeology and Research Society), the Higham Chichele Society, artists who hold exhibitions in the building and more recently, the Higham Gateway Club, for adults with learning disabilities.

Cutting the cake ...

Liz Brown and her daughter Alison Wilkinson were the only co-chairs in the committee’s 20-year history, while Pat Bird has been the secretary since the start. Her son, Kevin, is the treasurer. While Alison is no longer a member, she is still a “friend” and is called on to make special cakes, including the 20th birthday cake, which was cut by the Mayor, Councillor Nigel Brown.

Big Bank Holiday Weekend

Secret Gardens

Christmas trees

Santa's Grotto

Higham Tourism’s string of projects include funding play equipment for the Saffron Road play area, providing the Christmas trees for retailers as well as the High Street flower troughs throughout the year. We also hold popular events such as the Secret Gardens, the Garage Sale, the August Bank Holiday Weekend of Activities, and quiz nights.

And our Sparkle event with its elves and Santa is a “must see” for local children.

Higham Ferrers Junior School pupils at the dovecote on Charter Day 2019

Garden volunteers at work in the Chichele College Garden

And in the new community Duchy Barn Garden

Garden volunteers raising funds at the Chichele Garden Fair

The town’s historic dovecote was also renovated after a massive “Invest in a Nest” campaign.

Chichele College Garden and the Duchy Barn Garden have also been transformed with the help of our team of dedicated volunteer gardeners, who even kept weeding and planting during the Covid pandemic months.

The Saracens Head

A service hut, The Saracens Head, made possible by a Nenescape grant, and to be used to serve drinks during events, was unveiled in The Duchy Barn Garden at our birthday party by Carol Fitzgerald, chairperson of the Chichele Management Committee.

We chose the name The Saracens Head after the 18th Century inn at Chichele College.

Before ...

Our new community garden

And Liz Brown, who was the chairperson for four years, unveiled a plaque thanking donors and all involved in helping to transform The Duchy Barn Garden from the overgrown jungle it once was into the peaceful, beautiful haven it is today.

... and after

Official opening of the Chichele College Garden

A Medlar tree - an example of medieval style planting

The Physic border

National Lottery Funding

Gwen Tobin, a former chairperson, said that the town had a “marvellous heritage to be proud of” adding that “the things that keeps us going are the volunteers past and present.”

She talked specifically of the creation of the Chichele College Garden funded by the National Lottery 12 years ago and the great work of the garden volunteers.

Higham Ferrers Tourism is a family affair for treasurer Kevin Bird, pictured with his wife Lesley, and his mother Pat Bird, who has been the secretary since the founding 20 years ago

Our Chair, Liz Barnatt, thanked current members of the committee for their support and hard work.

She said it had been an extremely busy year celebrating the 600 Anniversary of Henry Chichele, the 20th Anniversary of Higham Tourism along with all the other events and that while this year’s Horticultural Show had to be cancelled because it fell during the official mourning of the late Queen, it would be on next year’s calendar of events.

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