Sun lures crowds to Godmanchester

SOME 3,000 people turned out in glorious sunshine to enjoy The Godmanchester Gala, with a procession on Saturday and a picnic in the park and annual duck race on Sunday. On Saturday the procession was lead by Gala Queen Steph Figg and princesses, Sherell

SOME 3,000 people turned out in glorious sunshine to enjoy The Godmanchester Gala, with a procession on Saturday and a picnic in the park and annual duck race on Sunday.

On Saturday the procession was lead by Gala Queen Steph Figg and princesses, Sherelle Page and Olivia Hamblen. The prize for the best float went to the Jigsaw Nursery with the prize for the best-dressed walkers going to the Combined Scouts and Rainbows.

On Sunday there were 800 plastic ducks thrown into the River Great Ouse at the sluice gate to sail about 100 metres. Punters paid 50 pence a duck and the winner was the one sponsored by Andrew Hodge, from Godmanchester, dad of Katie, nine and Ellie 11. There were prizes of £50, £25, £10 for first, second and third places.

At the picnic in the park at Godmanchester Recreation Ground on Sunday. There was a church service at 10am, fun for tots with games, songs and rhymes from 11.15am the duck race at noon and a free concert from 12.30p to 6.45pm.

Performers included students at Cambridge Regional College, primary school pupils from St Anne's and Godmanchester Community School and the groups Finishing Touch (Celtic), Split Whiskers (blues) and the rock and blues bands Who's Next and On Route.