3,000 enjoyed 2009 River Festival
An estimated 3,000 people came to Monkton Park to enjoy the first Chippenham River Festival on the 29th and 30th August.
The Dragon Boat racing organised by the Rotary Club of Chippenham Wiltshire Vale got the Saturday off to a great start. The grand final was a close run thing, with the RAF Lyneham team just pipping the Sailing & Canoeing Club to the post.
The River Zone in the spectacular ‘Dome’ tent caused a lot of interest with the exhibition of sailing dinghies and the display all about the river – its history, technology and potential for radical improvements. Richard Vivash of Riverscapes fascinated his audiences with his expertise on the guided walks, and has been booked up for a later date by the Civic Society! Many local organisations were also able to show off their work in the River Zone.
On the shore, there was plenty to do for the kids over the two days, with huge inflatables, quad bikes, Punch & Judy, a Climbing Wall, ‘Think Bikes’ a spectacular mountain bike display team, and much more. Hog roast and cream teas meant that nobody went hungry!
On Sunday the weather wasn’t quite so kind, but plenty of people turned up for more fun on the water – free boat trips, canoe races and demonstrations, raft building and crossing, and the Race of a Thousand Ducks, which caused great amusement. The winning duck was bought by Abbie. The ducks were kindly loaned by the Lions Club of Calne.
The Festival was closed with a Viking Boat Burning (picture) to commemorate Chippenham’s proud history as the place where King Alfred turned the tide on the Vikings. This had to be brought forward to 5.30pm because of the weather forecast, and the organisers apologise to anyone who came later to see this.
John Clark, the Festival organiser was delighted with how the first River festival had gone.
“The lack of alcohol turned out to be a plus, because it was just a super safe family event that did what it said on the tin – celebrated our great river and all the great things you can do on and around it.
It has been a roller-coaster ride to get the Festival on – I am sure we have made all the mistakes in the first year, so next year we will start earlier and in a better position!
Thank you to all the sponsors for making the event possible – especially the gold sponsors Westinghouse Rail Systems, Chippenham Vision, Wiltshire Council and The Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, and silver sponsors such as Emery Gate, Borough Parade, ChAP, DC Leisure and Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones.
I would also like to thank the fantastic volunteers and organisations who helped out. Special mention goes to the Sailing & Canoeing Club, who were our unofficial host organisation – what a brilliant lot! – and the Calne Sub-Aqua, whose willingness to provide rescue divers saved the day. Also heartfelt thanks to Ian Draper and the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival and the Chippenham Sea Cadets. I would also like to acknowledge the helpful way the Police and the Council went through all the necessary procedures with us and so many many others who stood up and counted when it mattered.”
