Quorns Golden Jubilee May Day Celebrations

For the 4th year running, the sun shone on the villages May Day celebrations. It was touch and go with the weather this year, and Im sure that there was many an anxious gaze towards the horizon. But in the end, another fine day, and an excellent turn-out considering that the FA Cup Final, and the semi-final of the Snooker Wold Championships, were rival attractions.

This year, Quorn was honoured by the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood, who opened the celebrations. As part of the official opening ceremony, the Mayor presented a bouquet of flowers to Lily Callaghan in recognition of her recent 90th birthday.

This year, the parade was lead by the Pipe Band of the British Legion, and the swirl of the pipes echoed along the High Street and Station Road. Bill Brookman and his troop of entertainers and dancers followed in the parade, and later entertained the crowd with the Maypole Dancing and Gypsy Dancing.

Throughout the afternoon, there was a constant programme of entertainment. The audience for Rawlins Youth Jazz Band filled The Cross, as they were entertained by the vibrant sounds of these young musicians. This band is consistently good, and a welcome addition to any village event. Look out for them as they perform again at Quorns Octoberfest!

Violin and guitar playing filled The Cross with a quieter and more soothing sound, but equally enjoyed by the audiences.

In addition to the, now regular, stalls from, amongst others, the Womens Institute, Old Peoples Fellowship, Abbeyfield, Gardening Club, RNLI, and the Quorn Branch of The Royal British Legion, there was a good number of new attractions this year. As usual throughout the crowds, you found the members of Quorn Scouts successfully selling programmes.

A mini Fire Engine provided excellent entertainment for the younger residents, with trips up and down Station Road, and at the same time raising money for the Firemens Benevolent Fund.
|For the first time, St Barts Church was open to the public with guided tours, including the opportunity to go up the tower, and see Quorn from a birds eye view. We do hope that this becomes a regular feature.

"The Quorndon", for the first time, had its own stall raising money for Rainbows. The second-hand bookstall did a good trade throughout the afternoon. Willing volunteers from Quorn Quilters, Rainbows Volunteer Team and friends of the village, sat patiently stitching Quorns efforts towards the record-breaking scarf into longer lengths. Watch out for the 'Church Wrapping ' on Saturday July 13th!

No-one had to go hungry or thirsty at the Celebrations, with cream teas available from the Baptist Church and St Barts, and ice creams and drinks available at the stalls and shops in Station Road.

The Scouts provided the usual colourful conclusion to the event, with the Duck Derby in the brook at Stafford Orchard.

We all know that events like this do not just happen on the day it takes a lot of effort, planning and fund-raising throughout the year.

Much of this is taken on by Joan Bloodworth, to whom we owe a great deal of thanks, as we do to Phil Child, and the rest of the working group and volunteers that brings it all together, and to everyone who contributes to the fund raising.

The crowds enjoy the music

The Parade

"The Quorndon" stall raising money for Rainbows hospice.