PLANETS, stars and aliens all featured in Addingham Gala’s parade on Saturday as children embraced this year’s theme of 2017 A Space Odyssey.
Keighley astronomy society were invited to participate.
Addingham Pre-School Playgroup pitched Buzz Lightyear and some cute little green aliens again the evil Emperor Zurg to take first prize for the third year running.
Paul and Dominic showed the the wonders of our Sun my means of the societies two Solar scopes. Other activities proved very popular with both children a parents. Paper rocket making and designing. As well as making planisphers. The Astronomy book stall also had keen interest.
Crowds followed the parade to the gala field where they were warmly welcomed by compere. The 2017 gala queen crowned by the outgoing 2016 gala queen. Attended by her maid of honour and party of flower girls and knights, she thanked the crowd as she officially opened the gala and later set off a field of fell runners on their five mile return dash to the top of Beamsley Beacon.
The Ermysted’s Big Band made things go with a swing, and, in a new addition the local Charabar or ‘Beer Bus’ provided welcome liquid refreshment to a hot crowd. Villagers and visitors supported the stalls and activities on the field and in the marquee, polished off scones and cake and watched a record turnout for the dog show. In the tug of war a strong Air Training Corps team dragged people around the field, but for the second year running the doughty Addingham women and girls beat the men and boys, possibly helped by having slightly more of them on the rope. Five hundred racing balloons soared above the trees on a refreshing breeze and disappeared into a deep blue sky as the afternoon drew to a close.
