2013 - year of achievement: a message from the Chair

As another year closes and a new one opens up, I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to the Friends.

Your commitment to conserving and protecting Priory Park for the benefit of ourselves and others is a real achievement and an absolute credit to the energy and time you give.

Looking back to January 2013, when we worked so hard to get the improvements started, we can be very rightly proud of what we see around us. We have managed some great events and have generated a good contribution to our much desired feature in the rose garden.

Let’s hope 2014 will be as enjoyable.

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year.

Warmest wishes

Mariann Harris

Chair – Friends of Priory Park

Christmas Carol Concert

The Carol Concert on the evening of 17 December was very successful. The weather was kind, there was a good turn out, and the performances of the Priory Primary School choir and the People's Orchestra were excellent, despite the poor lighting meaning it was difficult to read the music and the words! Ned Williams gave an entertaining talk about the Father Christmas wars in the Black Country, and the concert was followed by food and drinks in the Pavilion.

You can see more images from the event HERE - apologies for the poor quality, but the light was extremely poor, and the two main cameras I tried to use would not perform, so I was forced to use a simple Point-and-Shoot camera.

Entrances to Priory Park no. 1

Along with all the other improvements to Priory Park, nearly all the entrances have been enhanced in various ways, and we thought we would produce a series of photographs of these. Our first entrance is the one in Woodland Avenue.

Christmas is a coming

An update on the committee

The page on this website about the Friends of Priory Park has been rather neglected for several years, but at last it has been updated! Click on the link to 'Friends of Priory Park' under 'More Information' on the right of the home screen to see the revised version.

This seems a good opportunity to welcome Mariann Harris Thexton as Chair of the committee, although she has actually held that position for most of this year, taking over from Councillor Alan Finch, who is currently the Mayor of Dudley. The picture below shows Mariann in September at the formal opening of the improvements to the park, which have been taking place during 2013, and which are now just about complete. In the background you can see Alan Finch, looking rather serious in his official role!