Birstall’s Gala weekend
BIRSTALL’S ANNUAL two day Gala was
enjoyed by hundreds of visitors and was the best ever said the
organisers of this popular community event.
Saturday was organised by a new member of the Parish Council’s
gala team, Simon Castleman, who presented ‘Saturday Music
Live’. Crowds enjoyed performances from local bands 2nd2Last,
Dosvidania, Kaleb, Kid Klumsy, The Patient and Purple Patch.
Pics: Crowds at Birstall Gala
Pic: President of Birstall & District
Art Society Norman Sims welcomes visitors to their exhibition
tent
Pic: Birstall Brass perform
Pics above and below: The Last night of the
Proms concert
On Sunday, Gala Day was opened by the Mayor of Charnwood Roger
Wilson at 10am, followed by a combined service from the churches
of Birstall.
Hot, sunny weather ensured a good turnout on the School Lane
playing field and visitors enjoyed fun fair rides including waltzes
and dodgems, music from the Fosse Swing Band and Birstall Brass
Ensemble, and stalls from village organisations including Birstall
WI Market, Birstall Royal British Legion Women’s Section,
Birstall Village Cricket Club, Birstall & Wanlip Village
Watch, Birstall Scouts, the ATC, Age Concern and Birstall &
District Art Society.
Pic: Barry Weston (right) was the winner of
a miniature cricket bat, signed by all the players from Leicestershire,
the raffle prize at Birstall Village Cricket Club’s stall.
Presenting the bat is president of the club, Mike Lord &
Tom Corbett
Pic: Riding the dodgem cars
Pic: egg and spoon runners Ross Langley, Sam
Sadeghi & Tom Porter
Pic: The Fosse Swing band perform
Pic: Carl Gunns receiving a cheque for £100
from Dave Springthorpe, President of the Rotary Club of the Wreake
Valley, for his boxing gym. Dave said it was “in recognition
of all the work he is doing for young people”. Also pictured
are trainer Jill Forrester and secretary Andy Corbett.
Pic: Chairman of Birstall and Wanlip Age Concern
Jex Woods (right) receives a trophy from Chairman of Birstall
Parish Council Stuart Jones as the first winner of the Birstall
Citizen of the Year award.
Pic: The Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood,
Roger and Sheila Wilson, stop to look at the Birstall Royal British
Legion Women’s Section stall, manned by Hilda White, Margaret
Burden, Carol Lakin and Beulah Chapman.
The evening ended with an evening concert performed by the Hathern
Band with soprano Julie Meynell. Hundreds of concertgoers, many
with their own picnics, enjoyed a Last Night of the Proms programme,
climaxing with a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Mayor Roger Wilson said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the gala,
it was a brilliant two days, and it’s so very nice to see
the community coming together”.
Pic: The Village Watch stall signed up new
NHW co-ordinators on Gala day and sold alarms. (l-r) Rita Franks,
Audrey Kinton, Allan Kinton and Stefan Barnwell
Pic: The Patient, a band from Birstall, performing
on the Saturday
Pic: Funfair rides
Pic: Sack race runners Adam Bugby, Liam Norris,
Luke Walker, Fay Bradshaw and Tracey Swinfield
Pic: The victorious Trees team in the Tug
of War competition with the Plough
Chairman of Birstall Parish Council Stuart Jones said: “From
listening to peoples’ comments, I think it’s been the
best gala we’ve done so far. The highlight for me was watching
the friendly people of Birstall enjoying themselves and next
year we hope to repeat the success with a bigger and better event.”
Stuart said that thanks must go to Chairman of the Gala Committee
Doug Topley, Tony Fowler, Geoff Cassidy, Neville Mayes, Mary
Allen, Sheila Alcock, Peter West, Pat Cleer, St John’s Ambulance
and the Parish Council estates team for preparing and clearing
the site.
Thanks also to the Gala’s three new sponsors, Friends in
Soggy Homes, John C Barbershop and Midland Window Installations.
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