The Cookham Plan
People and Places Group
Culture and Heritage
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The Cookham Plan People and Places Group Culture and Heritage |
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Cookham’s fertile soil has fed such rich talents as Stanley Spencer and Kenneth Grahame. It continues to produce an abundance of creative events and individuals. The natural beauty of the River Thames, Cliveden, and Quarry Woods along with the Spencer Gallery bring many people here, and its association with Spencer is recognised world-wide.
Cookham is proud of the Gallery which is currently undergoing major refit thanks to a Lottery Grant. This provides an opportunity for the village to build on. The modern Library, which also houses the Parish Council, is the other permanent cultural facility. A tourist centre/information kiosk has been proposed. This would provide a coordinated centre for those who want advice centre about what is on offer in Cookham both culturally and for those who want to enjoy its woods, walks and riverside.
The Cookham Festival: This showcases local artists in their studios; provides art exhibitions and workshops, lectures, poetry,
concerts, recitals, performance, a Schools Prom and a paintathon. The festival aims to reach all members of the village. The events are well-attended, of a high standard and with a broad reach of the arts.
Annual events: Summer fairs are run by all the local schools and by the Scouts, and in both Cookham Dean and Cookham Village. Both the Dean and the village hold well-attended bonfire night fireworks displays. At The Cookham Plan People and Places v1.1 Page 5 of 10 Christmas as well as fairs and pantomimes and plays, there is the Cookham High Street Christmas Charity afternoon where local shops throw open their doors and raise money for good causes. Throughout the year the Tarrystone Players, Cantorum Choir and Cookham Arts club put on plays, recitals and displays.
Sports: The Colonel Garrett Cricket Cup is held for teams from the village. On the river in early September the Cookham Regatta is held and local families and teams compete in Dragon boats and enjoy the funfair on the river bank.
The Media: The Maidenhead Advertiser has a Cookham Notebook section to report on events in Cookham. The Bucks Free Press and Maidenhead Express also cover the area. There are two Parish and the Methodist Church magazines and a quarterly Cookham Dean Village Club newsletter. There is an extensive, active and well-maintained website Cookham.com listing local organisations and events.
The Cookham Summer FM local community radio station runs for 4 weeks every 5 years. This also pulls together a diverse range of residents and provides a central hub for residents to share their talents, information, tastes in music, quizzes, history and debating forum for local issues.
Religion: There are two Anglican, a Roman Catholic and a Methodist Church. Total weekly attendance averages around 400 and all the churches are active. There is a significant participation by young families. There is an inter-denominational framework in Cookham and all churches are part of the Maidenhead interfaith council encompassing religions other than Christianity.
In the questionnaire about activities, Church was cited as the highest category, with 22.5% including it in their list of activities. See Appendix II.
Cookham is a village teeming with artistic history and an abundance of cultural events. Its community is widely involved in the full programme of activities. Cookham is successfully using its heritage and culture in order to flourish.
Action Plan
Encourage visitors to come and enjoy the facilities that The Cookhams have to offer by providing them with information and clean and adequate facilities.