I was thinking about the concept of ‘community’ recently. Don’t panic! I haven’t changed overnight to someone who contemplates the deep and meaningfuls of human existence. I was pricked into thinking about it as I sat in the beautifully restored, art-deco era Warkworth Town Hall, watching a wonderfully crafted film about the Warkworth Primary School’s history.
A film made possible by Nicola Jones, Jon Waters and Warkworth school PTA chair Kate Moore, local folk who spent countless unpaid hours preserving the history of a treasured local school. As I sat there looking around the packed hall, I thought about those who had lavished their energy on the movie knowing that they would be getting little in the way of recognition, certainly nothing in the terms of financial reward, but clearly seeing the value in saving the memories of a place where so many were taught those first life lessons. A few evenings later, as I ambled around the Warkworth midwinter Festival of Lights, the sense of community nudged me again.
I watched those local volunteers as they closed roads, entertained crowds with music and song, gave rides to children, marched in a parade, laughed and ate while greeting old friends and meeting new ones. A couple of days after that, I delivered a food parcel put together by the wonderful folk at our local Hope Church foodbank, and I was struck once more by an overwhelming feeling of community. Of belonging.
I’m not saying that we are problem-free, but the iss.