8
July 2013
Blandford Rotary Spring Festival hailed a success Alfredo the Magician entertains a fascinated child with balloon art.
The Grind, an exciting new rock trio from The Blandford School.
PHOTOS BY JOHN BENTLEY
THE Rotary Clubs of Blandford put on another 'Great Day Out for the Whole Family' in the gardens of the Crown Hotel on the late May Bank Holiday Monday. What is now established as an annual event in the town's calendar was, as in previous years, organised in conjunction with the Blandford Cub Scouts and 1st Woodcutts Scout Group who provided 'fun of the fair' attractions. The two Scout groups received a large share of the proceeds, about ÂŁ1,700, and two local charities supported by the Blandford Rotary Clubs, Youth Aid and Julia's House, ran stalls. After the official opening by Blandford Town Mayor Bob Brannigan, entertainment began with Alfredo the Magician and a full programme of live music. This was provided by the Stur Steppers Dance School, Sam Ryall who played keyboard duets with a teddy bear called George (yes, really!), and pupils from The Blandford School, contributing for the second year running to the annual community event. They included Rory Shafford on fire devil sticks, the duo Anatemy featuring Emily Denton Smith and Natalie Hawkins, the school's exciting new rock trio Grind, made up of Jed Dutton, Tom Wood and Jack Hopcroft, Sam Greenwood on violin, beautiful singing from Zoe Hickson accompanied by Jamie Cardno on keyboard, and dancers Becky Tun Pe, Katy Clark, Georgina Duckworth, Jess Hollings, Rea and Amy Lillywhite and Hannah Stevens. They were commended on their outstanding performance by John
Zoe Hickson in fine voice. Bentley, incoming president of Blandford Rotary, and Deputy Headteacher Andrew Mead said: "It is testament to the high calibre of the performers that we have at the school, that we were able to provide four hours of such high quality entertainment." Rotary and Inner Wheel stalls offered cakes, plants, jams and preserves, books and the everpopular hog roast, hot dogs and bacon baps. The name of the Rotary bear - Roger - was guessed by seven-year-old Thomas Kiff. Event organiser Steve Adamson, thanking the Scouts and Cubs for their hard work, and Hall & Woodhouse and The Crown Hotel for providing facilities free of charge, said: "It's rewarding to have everyone working together to put on an event that local people enjoy and raises money for deserving charities."