Bolnore Village

The volunteers behind the annual Bolnore Village Halloween disco

As the summer ends in Bolnore Village, anticipation is building for one of the community’s favourite traditions - the annual Bolnore Village Halloween Disco at The Woodside.

While attendees experience a seamless night of spooky magic, lights, and music, the event is powered entirely by the hands-on dedication of its organisers and the strength of local village support.

Behind the scenes, the event’s directors work tirelessly for months to bring the celebration to life. They secure The Woodside venue, curate the eerie decorations, and design the setups that transform the hall each October. When the doors open, the director’s step straight into action - running the entertainment, managing the music decks, and hosting the games across multiple sessions tailored for both younger children and older families.

Yet, despite all the work put in by the directors, the organisers are quick to emphasise one crucial truth; the event simply wouldn’t run without the help of the local community.

From parents stepping up to manage ticket desks and serve refreshments, to husbands playing DJ, to volunteers staying late into the night to clear away cobwebs and sweep up glitter, the disco is a true collective effort. It takes a village to pull off an event of this scale, and Bolnore residents consistently rally to keep the tradition alive.

The highlight of the night remains the incredible effort put into fancy dress. Year after year, the creativity of local families blows the organisers away.

Beyond the dancing and spooky fun, the disco serves as a vital anchor for village spirit - a place where neighbours catch up, newcomers connect, and local children build lasting memories right on their doorstep.

Tickets for this year’s disco will be available soon. Space is limited, so keep an eye on local social media pages to secure your spot early.

Bolnore Village Primary School and Haydenswan Eyecare working together

Tucked away at the heart of Bolnore Village, Haydenswan Eyecare have been working alongside Bolnore Village Primary School to help support local children, that has included a donation of 10 new iPads for pupils. As a proudly independent, family-run business, the team at Haydenswan believe that supporting the local community has always been just as important as providing eye care. With many of the practice’s patients and families connected to the school, the collaboration felt like a natural fit. The iPads will help create new learning opportunities for pupils, supporting everything from creativity and communication to interactive classroom activities and educational development.

Charlotte Porter, Head of the PTA at Bolnore Village Primary School, said: “We are really excited about our collaboration with Haydenswan. As a PTA, our goal is always to enrich our pupils’ educational experiences and learning environment, but we can’t do it alone. The generous donation of ten new iPads will open up many creative and educational opportunities for the children, and Hayden swan’s support with fundraising ideas has injected new energy into our efforts. It’s wonderful to work with a local business who really cares about shaping a brighter future for our children.”

Claire Hayden, Director of Haydenswan Eyecare, added: “We are delighted to be able to support the children and the school community here in Bolnore. As an independent, family-run practice, we really want to make eye care personal again and it’s been wonderful joining forces with the school to support the children’s growth.”

Bolnore resident Annika shares pecan pie recipe

By Annika Patel

It’s been three years since our arrival, and even now, some mornings, I must pinch myself to fully grasp the fortune of calling this place home. Despite my deep appreciation for this new chapter, October stirs nostalgia within me. To soothe that longing, we’re indulging in the delight of American pecan pie, enriched with the sweetness of Canadian maple syrup, at our table this month. I hope you’ll join us in savouring this delicious treat!


Method

1. Blind bake a 24cm pie crust of your choice and set it aside.
2. Lightly toast the pecans. Set aside enough pecan halves to arrange in a circular pattern in the pie plate and coarsely chop the rest.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the last two.
5. Sprinkle the chopped pecans onto the pie shell. Pour in the filling. Arrange the pecan halves on top in a circular pattern.
6. Bake for 20 minutes. Cover pie with aluminium foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until the filling is firm. Remove foil and bake for an extra 1-2 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with Maldon sea salt flakes.

Ingredients

• 100g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 100g unrefined molasses sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla bean extract
• 320g maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp wholemeal flour
• 275g pecan halves
• Maldon sea salt flakes for topping