Welcome to this March edition of the Church Street Chronicle. As I type, the wind is howling and the rain is near horizontal as storm Ciara blasts its way across the UK. And yet, despite the storms and wintry weather, there is definitely a sense that spring is just around the corner. Cherry blossoms are appearing on the trees, snowdrops are on show in the woods, and the daffodils are just starting to poke through. Another indication that spring is in the air is that this time of the year is also competition time, particularly in the optical industry with many trade and professional competitions taking place around this time.
Last year was a great year for C&R, having been finalists in the Fashion Practice of the Year category of the Optician Awards last March, and being regional winners in the Federation of Master Builders Awards for our renovation and refurbishment project in June. This year, I’m delighted to report that we’re finalists in the inaugural Harborough District Business Awards in the Retailer of the Year category.
The awards are to celebrate, support, recognise and reward the town’s hardworking, innovative and enterprising businesses, so I’m thrilled that the judging panel has put us through to the final in our category. I’m also delighted to be a category sponsor for the “Outstanding Personal Achievement Award”, and to be supporting the first of what will hopefully be an annual event in the district’s business calendar.
The awards ceremony is also a great way for me to thank my team for their hard-work, and it’s a good excuse for a team outing and to get our glad rags on! The awards ceremony will be held at The Three Swans Hotel in Market Harborough on 6th March, so hopefully I’ll be reporting good news in April’s newsletter!
