Today at the very kind invitation of Bury Lions Club, the team along with our colleagues at Rossendale and Pendle MRT attended the Bury Lions Club Carnival Parade. After a week of heavy rain, today turned out to be glorious and the sunny weather brought the crowds out. This year’s event was on a Sunday which allowed the displays to be based around The Rock shopping and entertainment centre.
The Carnival Parade included colourful floats, bands, youth groups and a number of people in funny animal costumes. Team Call-Out members Tony Dawson, Diane Blakeley and Kris Kilshaw took part in the parade in one of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, BM2, ’The Mark Mason’ along with our team ’mascot,’ Rory our cuddly rescue dog complete with his mountain rescue uniform. We were due to be at the front of the parade with Rossendale & Pendle MRT and got into position ready for the parade. Diane Blakeley walked through the waiting crowds passing out stickers to all the children. She had not been back at the Land Rover long when a steward came and requested our help to assist a 6 year old boy from Rochdale who had had his foot run over by a mobility scooter (this is for information only and not recorded in our incident figures). When we arrived the young lad was being first aided by a retired nurse Sandra who was at the parade as a Street Pastor, thanks for her assistance.
Once the incident was over and he was safely in the hands of the NWAS crew that arrived, we took up a new position at the back of the parade. Much to the excitement of all the children (and adults) Rory waved to all the crowds throughout the parade. Lots of people lined the entire route; the crowds were definitely bigger than in previous years.
Back at the Gala site near Barclays Bank, President Bob Hutchinson and Support Group members Iain Clarkson and Sarah Hindle walked around the gala site selling BMRT wristbands and playing the ‘Guess the Meerkat’s name’ game. A total of £32.50 was raised, thanks to all those who took part.
Once the parade was over BM2 went on display but before we even had chance to get out the vehicle we were surrounded by children wanting to have a better look. We spent the next few hours lifting children into the Land Rover, explaining more about the work we do. The children and in particular their parents were most entertained by the talking Land Rover as Bob Hutchinson used his radio to talk to the children sat in the front of the vehicle.
The team’s thanks are expressed to Bury Lions Club for so kindly inviting us and involving us in the Bury Carnival Parade and Gala, with particular thanks to Scott Richardson, Carnival Chairman, whose hard work helped to make the event a success and raise money which will be distributed to many different charities.
