Spirits high on Dursley Festival Day (From Gazette Series)

Spirits high on Dursley Festival Day

A SUCCESSION of showers and one steady downpour did nothing to dampen spirits in Dursley on Saturday.

The town's Festival Day - the highlight of the week-long Dursley Town Festival - was a roaring success with activities for all ages throughout the day and into the evening.

There were street stalls and theatre, Morris dancers, a Punch and Judy show, a stilt walker and free rides on classic buses.

Dursley Fire Station opened its doors to visitors and the town's churches offered refreshments and ploughman's lunches while the Tabernacle presented a flower festival called Wedding Celebration.

The wet weather drew people into the Lister Hall where there was a heritage display showing Dursley and Cam's rich history of manufacturing.

Among the companies showing their wares and memorabilia were the Gazette and former Bailey Newspaper Group, Mawdesleys, Cam Mills, Dursley Pedersen Bicycles, Fibre Arts of Hopton Road, Cam, and Lister Petter, Lister Shearing and the Lister Club.

The exhibition - which included a display of static engines in the Gazette car park in Long Street - was officially opened by Richard Lister, the last managing director of R A Lister, Brian Draper, the new chairman of Lister Petter, Stroud MP David Drew and Dursley mayor Dr Tim Frankau.

The brightest spot of a glittering day was the festival carnival which attracted more than 180 entries.

Place of honour was given to the Dursley Rosebuds, who were chosen by Gazette readers. The three girls - Isabella Smith, aged four-and-a-half, Lucy Smith, 9, and Jae Johnson, 7 - were transported in an open top Rolls Royce owned and driven by Douggie England. They were followed on foot by other competitors in the Rosebud competition.

After gathering at the bottom of Long Street, the procession which included Scouts, Brownies, toddler groups, and Women's Institutes, made its way through cheering on-lookers to the Recreation Field and the presentation of prizes.

The mayor presented trophies to the carnival winners with first place going to 1st Cam Brownies, second place to Dursley Scouts and third place to the WI Calendar Girls.

Three women who were Dursley Rosebuds in the 1950s presented the 2004 Rosebuds with trophies and cheques donated by the Gazette.

Liz Palmer (nee Robinson) and Chris Foat (nee Less) presented cheques for £25 and trophies to Jae Johnson and Lucy Smith, while Joy Price (nee Perry) presented a cheque for £50 and a trophy to the Rosebud competition winner Isabella Friend.

Despite heavy rain, the festival celebrations continued on the Recreation Field with a tug of war, bouncy castle, dancing and music.