Beer, rubber ducks and monster veg (From Evesham Journal)

Beer, rubber ducks and monster veg at Worcester Beer Festival

11:30am Monday 20th August 2012 in News By James Connell

THOUSANDS flocked to a record-breaking beer festival in Worcester which brought the swinging 60s back to life with a bang.

It is estimated that more than 13,000 crowded through the gates of the annual CAMRA event on Pitchcroft. Festival organiser Bill Ottaway said that over the course of the festival, which opened on Thursday, they would have consumed about 46,200 pints.

Bands such as 60s stars the Move performed alongside folk, jazz, blues, funk, rock, soul and indie bands.

Mr Ottaway said: “People couldn’t believe we got The Move to come to the festival and play. They are the biggest band we have ever had. It was packed and it wasn’t just people who were around in the 1960s. There was a lot of youngsters in there as well. It has been a fantastic, record-breaking festival.”

Festival-goers had the choice of 200 beers, many brewed locally from places such as Firefly in Worcester and the Malvern Hills brewery. On Friday there were 4,500 people on site at the height of the festival, beating previous records.

Visitors to the Worcester Flower Show in Gheluvelt Park were treated to a colourful spectacular on Saturday.

The Mayor of Worcester Roger Berry was among the crowds to feast their eyes on every conceivable type of flower, fruit and vegetable from distinctive dahlias to fantastic fuchsias and from mammoth marrows to luscious leeks.

There were 905 entries and park warden Michelle Newell estimated there were more than 1,000 visitors to the event.

Categories included floral decorations and art, cactus, fruit and vegetable, cakes and preserves, handicrafts, photography and children’s competitions.

One of the judges, Bill Simpson, who has also judged at the Chelsea Flower Show, said: “Considering the season, the standard is very high. I think the exhibitors have coped remarkably well with the weather conditions.”

Youngsters were kept amused by a bouncy castle and activities organised by the play rangers, including parachute games.

With a sound of a horn 1,000 ducks were released into the River Severn from the bridge in Worcester on Saturday during a quackers fund-raiser for St Richard’s Hospice.

Crowds lined up along South Quay to watch. The winning ducks were fished out of the water by a crew from the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA).

Fund-raiser Lizzie Brazier said during the course of the festival they hoped to raise £2,000 towards the hospice in Wildwood Drive, including a collection at the firework display which marks the festival’s grand finale.

Participants could pay £3 for a small duck, £5 for a large duck or £25 for a ‘fancy dress duck’ with the chance to win between £20 and £50 in High Street vouchers.

Miss Brazier, aged 23, said: “The duck race really kicks off the festival nicely. It’s spectacular and children love to come and watch it.”

The winners were Megan Nixon (small duck), Peggy Fletcher (large duck) and Margaret Mallett with her fancy dress duck called Quackers About U.

What's on at the Worcester Festival

Today

From a Monastic Herbal – exhibition by the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists
Free. Cathedral. 9am-5pm.

Dance Summer School (juniors)
£35 for the week. Swan Theatre Studio. 10am-noon.

Street theatre competition
Free. Around city. Various times.

Coffee concerts with students from the Elgar School of Music
Free. St George’s Church. 10.30am-11.30am.

Flower and vestment display
Free. Old St Martin’s Church, Cornmarket. 10.30am-3.30pm.

Percy the Festival Peacock
Free. Around city. Various times.

Battle of Worcester City Walks
Free. Outside Guildhall. Noon to 1pm.

Dance classes for adults – zumba
£4.50 (3 for £12). Swan Theatre Studio. 12.30pm or 6pm.

Dance classes for adults – tap
£4.50 (3 for £12). Swan Theatre Studio. 12.30pm or 6pm.

Dance summer school (intermediate)
£55 for the week. Swan Theatre Studio. 2pm-5.30pm.

Live music from Claire Boswell
£7.50 (including drink). The Commandery. 5pm-6pm.

Festival auction
Free. Swan Theatre. 7pm.

Victoria Requiem Mass sung by Old St Martin’s Singers
Free. Old St Martin’s Church, Cornmarket. 7.30pm-8.30pm.

Tomorrow

From a Monastic Herbal
As above.

Cloud Nylon
Free. Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. 10.30am-4pm.

Coffee Concerts with Students from the Elgar School of Music
Free. St George’s Church. 10.30am.

Flower and Vestment Display
As above.

Maud and the Dragon
Free. Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. 10.30am-4pm.

Legend!
Free. Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. 10.30am-4pm.

Battle of Worcester City Walks
As above.

Dance Classes for Adults - Zumba!
As above.

Dance Classes for Adults - Chance to Dance!
£4.50 (3 for £12). Swan Theatre Studio. 12.30pm or 6pm.

Organ Recital by David Brookshaw
£5 (Concs £4). Old St Martin’s Church, Cornmarket. 1pm-2pm.

Body and Soul
Activities £3. University Of Worcester.

Worcester Festival Race Meeting
£7-£16 Children free. Pitchcroft. 5pm.

The Second Best Bed
£9.95. The Commandery. 7pm.

STAC Presents Ladies Down Under
£8.50 (Concs £7.50). Swan. 7.30pm.

Latin Salsa Workshop, Party and Evening of Entertainment
£6 (Concs £5). The Slug and Lettuce. 7.30pm.