THANK-YOU so much for the support of your newspaper and that of the business community of Cirencester who attended our very successful business launch for Abbey 900 in the parish church on last Tuesday, September 6.

Thank you also to our small army of volunteers who enhanced the ambience of the event by appearing appeared as monks and medieval ladies to serve the canapes and wine.

More volunteers are going to be needed next year to help facilitate the festival and I would like to draw your readers attention to the fact that we will be recruiting festival ambassadors at another event we are planning in the Bingham Gallery on Wednesday, November 9, more news of this later.

As you are aware the purpose of the festival is to celebrate our heritage and the fact that the Abbey, founded in 1117, restarted the economy that had fallen apart after the Romans left 700 years before.

With the numerous events and projects planned for next year, we are hoping to bring awareness of how important the Abbey was in that respect, that it was one of the foremost seats of learning in the country and by use of the 3D and Lego brick models show everyone what the Abbey church may have looked like.

Other main objectives in planning this year-long festival are the boost to the present economy of the town.

It should bring profits to fund studies needed before enhancement of the Abbey Grounds can proceed and we hope that the community will take part and have fun, so I do hope you and all your readers will look forward to enjoying many of the diverse events that will be happening in 2017.

Corinne Lamus
Chair Abbey 900