IT'S that time of year again and plans for the Stanford-le-Hope Music Festival and Town Festival are well advanced.

They are scheduled for this weekend – June 30 and July 1 – so I hope to see you there.

This year we are considering installing some medieval stocks, but haven’t decided which council officer to put in them. Please send me a shortlist!

With the town Festival occurring midway between the Jubilee celebrations and the London Games, the theme is the Best of British and we have the usual line-up of fun and celebrations with a few new attractions.

Our local MP, Stephen Metcalfe, and mayor Yash Gupta will be in attendance, plus no less than three stages with a great array of local talent.

It is not too late to send me (Gof4God@aol.com) nominations for Volunteer of the Year for someone living and/or working in Stanford to receive the Tony Guyon Memorial Cup.

We have close to a hundred stalls, bouncy castles, fairground rides (very reasonably priced!) competitions, clowns, face-painters, dancers and singers, the Thurrock Climbing Wall and some surprise guests.

If you believe in community come and support us!

Terry and the local forum would love to see you up the Billet, where you can dance the night away to some old favourites as well as some new talent and the Hope Committee and I would be thrilled to see you in the town on Sunday.

Come and give the new mayor a hug!

God bless you! – JOHN.