Glastonbury & Street Green Party

Published on 12th January 2016, the official film of the ‘Last Bank Standing’ Glastonbury Flashmob is now available on YouTube.

Made by local film-maker Kevin Redpath, it was uploaded onto the video-sharing website after receiving its first public screening at January’s meeting of Glastonbury Town Council.

Green Councillor Gabriel Avalon said  “Following the Flashmob, the profile of our campaign has grown massively overnight and Kevin’s film has only just been released!  I have worked closely with Kevin over Christmas ensuring everything fell into place on the day.  It is fair to say no Kevin, no flash mob, no press...   The town is indebted to Kevin for his support and selfless giving.”

Kevin's description on YouTube states: “Glastonbury, Somerset is campaigning against the closures of the last two remaining banks in our town.  Here is our spirited version of Jerusalem!  A huge thank you to everyone in Glastonbury who contributed to our Last Bank Standing campaign film – our residents, visitors and all our wonderful businesses.”

Sign the petition at: tinyurl.com/lastbankstanding

The Creative Team:

Beautiful opening vocals from Silver on the Tree:
Dreow Bennett
Oshia Drury
Viv Andreae

Location Sound Recording by the perfectionist:
Paul Lund

Location Photography in all weathers:
Dan Gale
Graham Trott
John Mason
Kevin Redpath
Paul Collins

Location Catering and great coffee:
Dave Kendrick and the Heapheys team

Editor, Sound Mixer, Picture Grader:
Dan Gale, Right Smart Video

Crowd Director and man with Loud Hailer and Louder Shoes:
Councillor Gabriel Avalon

Props Manager and Brue Boy:
Councillor Ian Tucker

Conductor:
The tireless Charles Hazlewood

Vocals and banner holders:
Too many people to thank but every single voice was really appreciated

Friendly local Methodist and very enthusiastic supporter:
Michael Eavis

A film by Kevin Redpath for our town’s Last Bank Standing Campaign

Made with love in Glastonbury, England
January 2016

Message from Glastonbury Green Councillor Gabriel Avalon:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who was involved in making today’s flash mob in Glastonbury such a success. Even the rain didn’t stop a massive crowd from turning out to show the banks that Glastonbury will not go down quietly.

There are so many people to thank that to do so individually would take all day but I would like to pay special mention to Charles Hazlewood for conducting on the day and for being an all round good egg and getting right behind us.

Also mention goes to Kevin Redpath who even as I write this is working away to create the YouTube video of the weekend and who also rewrote the words that we sung today.

Dave and John and the staff of Heaphys Café who have put up with us taking up his tables while we have had the many meetings needed to organise today. Dave also very kindly supplied the coffee for the videographers and press and TV people at the town hall.

Paul Manning from the Blue Cedar Print room and Jan and Shirley from Fragrant Earth have also given invaluable input and help to make today happen.

And let’s not forget the towns taxi drivers who made such a wonderful end to the day.

And finally thank you the people of this wonderful quirky, unique, town for showing you care and for literally singing in the rain. Thank you all for coming.

This is just the start. We are already working on new and exciting ways to show the banks that we will not be left without banking provision and that the economy of our town will not be broken just because an accountant miles away decides to shave a bit of the running costs of the branches.

Please share this message so that as many as possible can see it

Thanks

Gabe

Cllr Gabriel Avalon
St. Benedict’s Ward Councillor
Glastonbury Town Council

Green Councillor Gabriel Avalon contemplates virtual banking...

Glastonbury’s Green minority-controlled Council is increasing efforts to stop Glastonbury being left without a bank.

At the end of 2015, following the closure of NatWest and HSBC, it was revealed that both Lloyds and Barclays would close their doors by April, leaving Glastonbury with no banks or ATMs in the centre.

But the community and local businesses have joined with Glastonbury’s councillors in a bid to stop at least one of the banks from closing, and on Saturday 9th January hundreds of people are expected to take part in a flash mob.

Green Councillor Gabriel Avalon, said: “It is going to be a major, major event. A flash mob will take place at midday at the market square and we want everybody to turn up, as many people as possible.  About 30 seconds before midday we will be calling in the taxis who will block the High Street to stop the traffic, then we will migrate on the street.  Flash mobs are known to be very successful – we are hoping to go viral.”

Conductor Charles Hazlewood is expected to be at the event and Cllr Avalon said other celebrities could be joining the crowd, including Glastonbury Festival’s Michael Eavis and Dragons’ Den investor Deborah Meaden!

Following the news of the closures, Glastonbury Council contacted Lloyds and Barclays in the hope one would reconsider, but it has only had a response from Barclays.

Cllr Avalon said: “Representatives from Barclays have attended a meeting at the town hall – we discussed various options. We suggested they would consider a six-month deal for people to show they will support the bank and then they might think it might be worthwhile to stay.  They appeared open to looking at this.  In their opinion, they are closing – but they are approaching these talks with an open mind. We will be meeting with them again.  No other bank has made any contact.”

Cllr Avalon also said that in response to the campaign the Co-op shop was planning to get an ATM cash point installed, but he added that the town centre needs more than one.

The flash mob will be held at midday on Saturday 9th January at the market cross and Cllr Avalon is urging everyone to get involved.

To sign the petition to save one of the banks, visit: www.change.org/p/rt-hon-sajid-javid-mp-last-bank-standing-don-t-let-communities-lose-their-only-bank.

Read more: http://www.centralsomersetgazette.co.uk/Flash-mob-set-held-stop-Glastonbury-banks-closing/story-28462423-detail/story.html#ixzz3wSfaIB8l