Dear Friends and Neighbours,

For over thirty years, our community has celebrated the summer of every year with a get-together. It's been known by various names over the years - the Limehouse Festival, the Narrow Street Fete and, for the last five years, LIMEfest. Whatever it was called, its purpose was to get each of us to open our front doors, step out into the sunshine, meet our neighbours, and celebrate our community with music and dance and fun for young and old. Whatever it was called it was always put on by "us", the people of Limehouse - not the Local Authority, not some travelling road show, but us.

LIMEfest continues to grow in popularity with each passing year. It's a day that is completely and totally organised by volunteers; if there is any money left over, it is put straight back into our community. Each year the cost of the festival has risen, now topping £15,000.00. We raise this money without subscription or cost to the Forum - we solicit donations and offer sponsorship to worthy local businesses. It's clear that our local business community is suffering from instability; trade has become more difficult and costs have increased dramatically. It's not easy for anyone anymore. Over the years, many of our biggest local businesses have been financially supportive of our community activities. While I'm sure we all "think locally" when parting with our money and patronise our local shops and professionals, this year, these businesses are unable to support LIMEfest to the levels of previous years.

Each year LIMEfest ends with the volunteers exhausted, tired and partly swearing,"never again". But then, over a well deserved drink, we recall the sights of the day, older residents swaying and bobbing to the music, families on blankets sharing a meal and a laugh. and the astonished, adorable faces of the little kids as they lick their free ice cream cone.

This year we're in trouble. Generous business sponsorship from years past has not materialised. Stall holders and food vendors are tightening their belts and things at this point don't look very good. Donating Five Pounds, Ten Pounds, Twenty Pound would make a real difference.

This is our festival, put on by us, for us, and about us, so I now ask all of us to pull together and support us.

Thank you for your kind generosity!

Mark Slankard

Chairman, Limehouse Community Forum