Cowling goes Caribbean

From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Aug 2007.

Last Saturday was appropriately warm and sunny for Cowling's Caribbean Gala with the good weather drawing crowds to pack the streets for the grand procession.

Led by Bill Mercer travelling in a Walter C. Brigg car, who did a great job announcing the day's events, the procession included many village groups and several gala queens,

Barnoldswick Brass Band, Circle Dancers, vintage vehicles, Walter Wollipop, a pair of Sumo wrestlers and the star attraction - Levi Roots, as seen on TV's Dragon's Den.

Parish council chairman Tom Greenway began the opening ceremony by introducing last year's retiring gala queen, Emily Firth, to crown this year's queen, Beth Holder, who sat in pride of place with her attendants, Jessica Butterell, Megan Thomas, Stephanie Empson and page boy, Joseph Coates.

Levi Roots, who had travelled all the way from London to attend the event, and after presenting cups and prizes, he gave a short speech and joked that Cowling was lucky to have him there as the call from the gala committee was the first he received after being seen on television and he now charges £5,000 for a personal appearance!

He also sang his famous "Reggae Reggae Sauce" song and it truly was a sight to behold as villagers young and old joined in with the chorus, Jamaican accent and all!

The fair - in place due to much hard work and Joe Ogden's tractor - despite the soft ground was filled to capacity by those young enough to stomach the waltzers and old enough to no longer enjoy speeches.

Local stallholders, such as Moonrakers and Pinnacle Productions did a great trade as people stayed on the field for much longer than in previous years, also ensuring a good audience for the children's sports and fell race, deserved attention for those hardy souls who ran all the way up to the Pinnacle and back.

A well contested tug o' war attracted the usual shouts of encouragement - and the occassional insult - and drew the crowds nicely back together for the grand draw.

The final event of the afternoon was the clay pigeon shoot, organised by Chris Swinson and John Foulds, which made a welcome return after being cancelled last year due to the moor fires.