Passing Comment:
By Sue Vincent Jones.
Success of Cadstock sums up Barry’s community spirit
Well, I’ve just about recovered from a wild weekend baking at a packed and perfect Cadstock with the Barry Massive, and quite a few fans from Wales and wider.
What a stunning success the weekend was. The bands were brilliant, the crowds were cool, the vibe was victorious, and whoever ordered the weather played an absolute blinder.
Cadstock has always been one of the focal points of the Barry calendar, almost trebling in size since it began in 2009, with 2019’s decade celebration one of the biggest and best events the town has ever seen. It was always risky rush throwing it together in a few short months after a long two-year music drought. But our small but perfectly formed volunteer committee pulled it off.
The event was back with a bang, bringing us Barrians a weekender with something for everyone from ska to soft rock, mod to metal, punk to funk – and some sweet soul music too. Respect to founder Jonathan Greatrex. Thanks also to the bands, the choirs, the security, the cleaners, the litter pickers, and the police.
But of course, the one special ingredient that keeps Cadstock alive is our cracking community spirit. Our superb sense of solidarity runs right through our residents like a stick of Barry Island rock.
And never has this been more totally tested as our town lives in the aftermath of riding the ‘Coronacoaster’ of lonely lockdown. Our town may have been battered by Covid cancellations that have ripped up our community calendar, but as always, our rallying residents pulled together to keep the Cadstock vibe alive.
For me, community is not just anyone living in the same place, it means a group of like-minded people who share the same interests, who stick together through a strong sense of unity, and often, the deep desire to make a difference.
Barry, I’ve just summed you up beautifully.
Thank you to everyone who has tackled the frenzied fall out from this crazy Covid-19 head on to help our householders, rally our residents, and make our corner of wonderful Wales a better and brighter place. Keep on keeping on, behind the scenes or on the streets, to get us past this paralysing pandemic, and to fight for all that our terrific town needs, and deeply deserves.
That’s the (community) spirit.
- The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors.
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