THE Good Friday procession to erect a cross on Cam Peak, which is usually attended by hundreds of people, was cancelled for a second year due to Covid restrictions.

However, observing the two families rule, the Irvine family from Cam and the Spears family from Dursley were able to carry the 12 foot cross to the top of the Peak, where it stayed throughout the weekend.

It will be taken down today (Easter Monday).

Emma Irvine, who helped carry the cross with members of her family, said: “It was a real privilege to carry the cross up Cam Peak.

“We are members at Dursley Tab URC and have taken part in the Walk of Witness for many years.

"We were familiar with fixing the cross at the top because of taking youth groups up late on Good Friday evening most years - when we needed to bring the cross down each night over Easter.

"Rev Simon Helme asked us and another family and we were happy to help.

"We missed walking with 500 other folk from our community, but hope and pray that we are in a much better position to walk together next Easter.

"It was important to us as a family, and as members of the church, that the cross could stand on Cam Peak this year as a symbol of hope; we shall be glad to put this year behind us and look forward."

This year marks 53 years since the Good Friday procession of witness at Cam Peak was launched. It started with a group of youngsters linked to ‘The People Next Door’, who made a cross out of a telegraph pole and planks of wood which they erected overnight.

The official processions, arranged by Cam and Dursley Churches Together, started a year later and have taken place every year since.

Many thanks to Franki Michelle Emerton for these fabulous photos.