Blisworth Canal Festival 2012

 August 11th and 12th

It is a pleasure to report that "Festival 2012" was bigger and better than all previous ones. The organisers, led  by the capable Jan Andrews, have excelled themselves. The banner at the base of this page shows extracts from the program pamphlet. However there lacks detail, in that pamphlet, on some aspects of the entertainment that was provided, for example by the "The Dog Kennel Hill theatre project" but these are covered in the following account. There were more venues this year: being a field accessible from the towpath south of Mill Bridge (for pony rides and the theatre project) and a field next to Candle Bridge designated the "Countryside Arena" (carousel, bouncy castle, a woodman and fencer's display along with stands put on by Moulton College and the Canal and Rivers Trust).

Also topical:   As you can see from Colin Wakelin's tour of celebration last month there was an opportunity to "plug" the fact that Blisworth recently won a "Best Village" award thanks to the efforts of a small team this year. There is a community spirit plainly abroad in the village that is evinced by a number of features, most notable of which is this fourth in a series of successful canal festivals. More details.

The scope of the festival was much more extensive than last year with many new features to entertain.  Quite a few items that appeared last year also were present this year - the blacksmith in a corner by Blisworth House, the miniature bells in the churchyard, a fun item for kids being a laser shoot-out at the pub lawn, painting faces, the ten or so "Open Village Gardens" on the Sunday, the "Funion Bargee" Boat, an opportunity to adopt a cuddly toy, a cheese boat, an allotments display and veggy plus marmalade plus pickle sale and a fudge boat. There was also the usual array of trip boats offering a journey by canal to either the tunnel mouth or to Blisworth Arm. In addition, a tradition was upheld in presenting a talk at the Chapel. This year the talk was given by Hilary Spurrier (see inset), Chm. of the Blisworth Heritage Society, on the subject of photographing water - 'Reflections on Water'.  She gave examples of photographing the local canal spots, so some of it was about Blisworth :o), and she illustrated techniques with some shots of breaking waves and icebergs.  The Heritage Society manned a board on the towpath and as one approached one could hear of Henry VII, Grafton, bake-houses and blacksmiths . . Village history was also well represented in the tapestry hung in the Chapel Tearoom whilst other artistic endeavours along with the late Jim Payler's canal photography were on display at the Village Hall.

A considerable number of new items included carousels, placed on the newly opened field by Candle Bridge, some pony rides on Blisworth House lawn, a collection of classic vehicles kept by the Perrett family, a Red Bus 'Fun Stop' at the Royal Oak and a seemingly inexhaustible Pork Roast also at the Royal Oak. There was an RNLI rescue boat (an inshore rib, D Class, as some of you will already know) for the youngsters' imagination at the Wharf - important that, so the Dads could enjoy the real ale and burger stalls nearby. There were two owls and some parrots on show with a guy who would explain to children why they look like they do!  The quality of the trade stalls was better this year with more 'worthwhile' items for sale. Live music in the evenings was provided at the Wharf by "Team G" on Saturday and "Rapscallion" on Sunday. At the Wharf, the Royal Oak, the Village Hall, the Chapel and the Church there was food laid on - also there were at least three mobile fast-food sales including the ice-cream van that never seemed to move from Candle Bridge.

The weather could hardly have been better, except for one very brief dampening, and attendance was heavy on both afternoons. A field near the Mill was set aside for car-parking and was well used, especially on the Sunday. The temporary bright yellow signage for both the anxious motorist and the lost pedestrians was flawless.

The "Dog Kennel Hill" presentation was put on only once - of course I missed it but can describe it as essentially a duo: a girl with a violin and excellent singing voice and a guy (Pete Boyce - who also owns Renfrew) who provided narrative and, later, some storytelling in the gardens.  Very amusing and rather inspiring was the styled quadrille dancing by the "WoadWorks" who appeared at both the Royal Oak and in Blisworth House Gardens, caught on camera below.
Enough of words! - why not take it in visually . . . .