The Belle Vue Arts Festival

When sad and terrible events take place, locally, nationally, or on the world stage, it is easy to lose faith in human nature.

Perhaps every newspaper and news broadcast should carry a government health warning: ‘Be careful. The contents herein could seriously damage your belief that – overwhelmingly – people are essentially good and kind.’

The thing is, we need to keep reminding ourselves that plenty of wonderful things are going on as well.

There is generosity and joy and tremendous affection, and you really don't have to go very far to find all this.

Take the Belle Vue Arts Festival, for example, an annual blossoming of creativity and community spirit that warms the heart.

This one suburb of Shrewsbury is leading the way in this regard, but there's no reason why other parts of our lovely town couldn't organise similar events.

This year, between June 8 and June 23, people will come together – mums and dads, children, pensioners, everyone – to have fun, to reaffirm neighbourliness, to build bridges between groups and individuals and make new friends.

There's music, photography, knitting, painting, artwork of every kind, exhibitions, workshops, a film night, a garden trail, a plant and craft fair, walks, a family cycle ride in the Quarry, a quiz night, and – of course – scarecrows all over the place!

Festival chairman Tony Sharpe said: “This will be the tenth festival and we are always trying to encourage more and more people to take part.

“It's always really wonderful to see parents and children working together, making things. It's lovely.”

Meanwhile, it was a pleasure for me last week to meet up once again with John Francis who is also involved in the arts festival.

A committee member of the Talking Newspaper for the Blind, multi-talented John (singer, writer, historian) and his friend Sheila Middle (also multi-talented – ukelele, banjo, piano) were also singing the praises of the festival.

“It's really great for Belle Vue and the wider community,” said John.

“It really brings everyone together,” said Sheila.

As part of the festival, John leads a pub history walk (which this year takes place on June 19, beginning at the Seven Stars at 7pm).

Unfortunately there are only 25 places so you need to book early.

“We move off from the Seven Stars and I tell people about The Swan which has long since disappeared, and then we take a look at The Globe and The Castle and The Boar's Head. Then we walk down the alley to the Cross Foxes.”

As I listened to John, I thought this could be quite a pub crawl – even though some of these places no longer exist – but he then assured me that the party does not stop at each pub for a drink. Oh. Maybe not such a great pub crawl after all.

Of course this is to do with history and heritage, not consuming beer, although the party does get to refresh itself at a couple of places including the final pub on the trail.

On the walk, John will tell you about The Royal Oak, long since gone but now incorporated into what is now WRR Pugh in Coleham.

“Then there's The Crown, up to The Grove where we do actually stop for refreshment.

“Then back down the Belle Vue Road to the Belle Vue Tavern, the Masonic Arms and the Prince of Wales.”

If pubs aren't your thing, try the film night of award-winning short films from home-grown talent on June 13 at the Wakeman School, or the torn paper collage workshop on June 11 and 12 at the English Bridge Workshop – or pop along to the art exhibition (also at EBW) which opens on the 15th with jazz and cakes.

The crazy, colourful scarecrows of Belle Vue will be all over the suburb to brighten up your day (maps available from the Stop cafe and Get The Picture).

Belle Vue – with its mix of mansions and terraces, its mysterious half-hidden streets, its railway bridges and pubs – is a beautiful part of Shrewsbury.

Personally, I’ve loved the area ever since I was little and we used to catch a big Midland Red double decker bus from town to go and visit our nan in Links Road.

And it seems only fitting that those lucky people who live in Belle Vue should celebrate with a burst of creativity and community events.

So go on – get involved. Pick up a paintbrush. Grab a camera. Pop along to an exhibition. Soak up the atmosphere. Giggle at a scarecrow.

Come rain or shine, the Belle Vue Arts Festival is a winner.

It’ll make you feel better about the world.

Oh look. It’s brilliant. There's just so much going on.

Pick up a leaflet, telephone Tony on 236975, or visit the website for more information –www.bellevueartsfestival.co.uk