23 The wet Monday morning drew boaters to the Island marquee for the official prizegiving followed by a Boaters Auction which raised nearly £500, a magnificent sum echoing the success of the two evening raffles. After the prize giving, John Butler, Chairman of IWA Events, told Old Stager he was well satisfied with how the Festival had gone, notwithstanding the poor weather about which nothing could be done. He warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic input and positive cooperation of the Festival partners - Northampton Borough Council, the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust. He added: “Then, of course, there was the immense contribution from IWA’s Northampton Branch and all its volunteers who worked tirelessly towards the Festival’s success, together with the IWA Blueshirts, the WRGies and CRT volunteers manning the locks on the Northampton Arm, not forgetting the car park attendants in Midsummer Meadow. Mentioning individual names is so difficult – miss one and you’re in trouble – but I would like to single out Lynda Payton whose efforts on the publicity front must be recognised. Well done, Lynda.” Ironically, the Festival ended as the rain reluctantly stopped, with the great clear and clean up following on the Tuesday in bright sunshine. Positive feedback indicates a good time was had by all. Obviously it’s impossible to cover every aspect of the Festival, one of the aims of which was to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Northampton Arm – so much happening {as in 1971) and volunteers getting on with things efficiently but almost unnoticed. We must feel sorry for the commercial enterprises operating in the Park – it’s never good to have to “strike camp” early in the face of inclement weather. Bear in mind, though, there is a plus point here – falling rain helps to maintain the levels on the canals. So, always look on the bright side of life… Chucklefoot entertained the crowds during the day with his one-man-band, and on the Saturday evening in the marquee on the Lock Island
Endeavour - November 2015
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