Colourful fun day defies the weather

The weather may have been wet, but those attending Southwell’s second family fun day on Saturday refused to let the event become a wash-out.

Community organisations provided plenty of colour to brighten up a grey afternoon with lots of activities for families to enjoy together.

The event was organised by Southwell Town Council.

A town councillor, Mrs Beryl Prentice, said the fun day had been fantastic despite the bad weather.

She said: “Everybody has turned up and has enjoyed themselves.”

Mrs Prentice said the event allowed families to have a nice day out together and gave the council the chance to use the Burgage green.

She said: “It is such a lovely space. What we want to do is to use it for community activities like this.”

Around 35 stalls and displays were set up around the Burgage green by groups.

Southwell Police took police cars and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue took a fire engine.

Holy Trinity Infants’ School held a raffle at their stall for people to win a mystery prize.

The school’s head, Mrs Julie Rischer, said: “I think the fun day is an excellent idea to bring the local community together.”

Children’s House Nursery School, Station Road, Southwell, hosted a hook-a-duck game at their stall and ran a competition for people to guess the home city of a toy dog.

Money raised was for the National Blind Children’s Society.

Southwell Prebend Pre-school offered younger visitors the chance to grow their own sunflower.

The chairman of the pre-school committee, Mrs Hayley Gault, of Leeway Road, Southwell, said the activity linked with the pre-school’s project to create its own sensory garden next term.

At Farnsfield Pre-school’s stall, three-year-old twins Lucy and Violet Roberts, of Beck Street, Thurgarton, created masks to wear for the afternoon.

Their father, Mr Ian Roberts (42) said the family had come to Southwell especially for the fun day, having had such a good time at last year’s event.

“I think it is great. There is a great community around here,” he said.

Visitors to the Newark and District Young Archaeologists’ Club stall were transported back to the 3rd Century and the rule of the Roman Empire.

A Roman soldier in full regalia was on hand to tell people about life in Caesar’s army and how ordinary Romans lived.

People helped to create a large Roman mosaic and amateur archaeologists could take their discoveries to have them viewed by a professional.