IT’S FUN, FUN, FUN AS CAMBOURNE FESTIVAL REACHES

NEW HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS!

Revellers flocked to this year’s event to enjoy mushy peas with noodles and a Karate chop – accompanied by a lively Latin beat…

They came in droves to what was without doubt the liveliest, most outrageously messy annual Cambourne Festival to date. This, the fourth festival of its kind at the thriving new community near Cambridge, took place over the weekend of 25th and 26th July 2003.

One of the residents responsible for organising the festival, Ben Rickard, enthuses, “Everything went like clockwork from what I could see. All the stalls looked fantastic and were busy all day. There were things for the kids to see and do from one end of the meadow to the other, from goal shooting to bouncy castles to throwing soggy SuperNoodles at our ‘village idiots’ in the stocks! Even the weather was kind with the rain holding off all day, right until moment the evening events started under the shelter of the marquee. What with some sultry live Samba being played, the rain actually added to the tropical atmosphere!”

One of the highlights of the day was the alarmingly green and slimy looking mushy pea bath. Three extremely game volunteers, PC Chris Bradley – Cambourne’s local community beat officer, Susannah Harris – Community Development Officer at SCDC, and local model, Becky ‘S’, stood as candidates for a cold dip in the bath. Festival-goers voted at £1 each with Susannah Harris winning. Dressed as a schoolgirl, she held on tightly to her sense of humour and took the plunge, much to the delight of the crowd!

The money raised will now go to charity. Susannah’s impressive £43 will go to local youth groups, while the £38 raised by Becky ‘S’ will go to the Wood Green Animal Shelter. Coming in commendable third, PC Bradley raised £24 that will go towards a local youth project.

Nine children, and organiser, Ben, all took a dip in the mushy peas throughout the day, raising a total of over £900 for Cambourne’s Monkfield Park Primary School (subject to collection). The youngster attracting the most sponsorship, Lewis xxxxxx (age?), won the main prize of a BMX bike.

Over in the SuperNoodles stocks - courtesy of Campbells on the Cambourne Business Park - the kids took huge delight in lobbing bowlfuls of soggy noodles at plucky Campbells employees, otherwise referred to as the ‘village idiots’ for the day. For £1 a go, the children were also able to take a turn in the stocks, or nominate their somewhat unfortunate parents and friends. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this stand proved particularly popular and, together with the Campbell’s Tombola and Fray Bentos Roadshow, raised £250 for local charities.

Also well supported were a dazzling Karate display, complete with breezeblock breaking Karate chops, a yoga demonstration and a performance of dance from local schoolchildren.

Bringing the day’s activities into a resounding climax in the evening was Brazilian Samba Band, Arco Iris. Firstly, they held a drum and bongo workshop for youngsters, culminating in an irresistible performance of vibrant Latin music that got everyone up and dancing to the rhythm of the night.

Later, the Broken Family Band, went down a storm with their popular brand of xxxxxxxxxxxxxx music. After, Local DJ Dave Riches gave the crowd exactly what they wanted – great music to dance to until the early hours.

Ben sums up, “This year’s Cambourne Festival was just amazing and so much fun for everyone that came along. It’s typical of the lively, outgoing spirit of this place. The event is well and truly on the annual calendar now, and word is spreading well beyond the settlement itself. Watch this space for next year!”

The developers of Cambourne – Bovis Homes, Bryant Homes and George Wimpey - aim to provide a whole new ‘living environment’ of over 3,000 homes with shops and services on the doorstep that will encompass the best of the past with all the benefits of modern planning.

With already 900 homes occupied and a wealth of amenities built and open, Cambourne really is an exciting and bustling new community. For more information, please contact the Cambourne Concept Centre on 0800 389 7525 or visit the web site at www.cambourne-uk.com

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