The Flood Fest was hosted by the Football Club, organised by Lions and Rotary who did a fantastic job in difficult circumstances because The Rain Came Down much of the afternoon, but things carried on regardless.
The rain meant people were slow to arrive but during a brief break in the clouds a good crowd assembled and enjoyed the fun in the wet. The tug o’ war is set to become an annual event with a proper trophy and prizes. The teams provided great entertainment and the children enjoyed the sports.
Most of the Song for Southwell tea towels were sold and many resorted to reading the words to The Rain Came Down from their tea towels as the paper versions disintegrated in the wet. The song was sung under the batten of Nick Thorpe accompanied by Guy Turner who composed the song, and the singing was lead by the Choral Society and Daytime Voices.
The very wet Flood Fest was followed by a torrential downpour, before the sun came out in time to enjoy the Opera in the Garden presented by Southwell Gardening Club in aid of the Flood Fund. A great way to commemorate the community’s resilience to adversity.
Despite the weather more than £200 was raised towards the Flood Fund even though the event was not specifically to raise money. It was a day to celebrate the community’s resilience to adversity and to commemorate the anniversary of the Flood of 23rd July 2013.
Southwell Flood Forum would like to acknowledge everyone who made the Flood Fest such a success:
- The Bramley Newspaper
- Cllr Bruce Laughton (Nottinghamshire County Council)
- Daytime Voices (Music for Everyone)
- Eco-Print
- TheEternal Youth Club
- Gadsby’s Bakery
- Grant Barnett & Co Ltd
- The Minster School
- The Minster School Jazz Band
- Newark First Aiders
- Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Eleanor Radford
- SoundZAfrican
- Southwell Co-op
- Southwell Choral Society
- Southwell Explorers
- Southwell Football Club
- Southwell First Responders
- Southwell Town Council
- Southwell and District Lions Club
- Southwell Rotary Club
- Southwell Scouts
- Sportstar Ltd
- Nick Thorpe
- Guy Turner
- Annie-May Wright
…and all the stall holders, the people who helped with the refreshments, baked the cakes and biscuits, ran the BBQ, helped with the setting up and taking down, the donkey, the tug o’ war teams and everyone who sang the song, especially the children, as The Rain Came Down! A big Thank You.
All tea towels on sale at the Flood Fest were sold but there are still some available in shops in town.
– Katy Todd
