Very warm and dry conditions mixed with brilliant summer sunshine greeted this years Tockholes Village Gala and Annual Fell Race, attracting a very large number of visitors to this delightful village, nestling on the edge of the moors.
The team had been invited to attend and display our vehicles, search and rescue equipment and also to provide Standby Rescue Cover provision for the annual Tockholes Fell Race.
Fifteen Call Out list members were present, kindly joined by Support Group members Teresa and Howard Gilliland and Heather Jackson.
All five of our Team vehicles were on show, along with our Control Trailer, Search and Rescue Boat, a display of our search and rescue equipment and our display exhibition boards.
Full credit must go to the Tockholes Village Gala organisers for the wide range of activities present, including stalls, a excellent Brass Band, displays (Birds of Prey, Pet handling and an incredible young man doing acrobatics on ’springy stilts’) Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and competitions, including ’Welly Throwing, Tug of War and Football matches.
From the opening mid morning right through to 5pm when the Village Gala ’day events’ ended, the visitors just kept arriving, and we had a prime position at the entrance to the Gala field.
At 2.30pm the annual Tockholes Fell Race commenced, attracting 77x runners on a course which took in Sunnyhurst Wood, Darwen Tower, Aggies Staircase, and Roddlesworth Woodlands.
Team members from those present at the Gala were positioned around the Fell Race route, including Sunnyhurst Wood, Darwen Tower, Stepback Brook and the Royal Arms.
Given the excellent running conditions, the Fell Race thankfully passed without incident and all our members returned to the Gala field.
A second hand book stall (’Any donation accepted!’) raised £84.75p for the team, with thanks to our three Support Group members who did a sterling job inviting the many visitors present to purchase a book.
With Team members Mark Scott and Elaine Gilliland talking visitors to our display through CPR and Basic Life Support with our Resuscitation Manikins, and other team kit demonstrations, there was considerable public interest in the work of the team, resulting in many very kind donations, including one personal donation of £25.00, with all the many donations received totaling £174.80p.
In total with very grateful thanks to all the visitors to the Tockholes Village Gala who so kindly and generously supported the team we raised the grand figure of £259.55p.
The team would like to thank all involved in organising this years Tockholes Village Gala for inviting the team to take part, and also for putting on such an excellent and enjoyable day for us all.
