The rain stayed away and more than 1,000 visitors enjoyed all the fun, games, stall and activities at the first ever Irlam Rotary Community Fun Day and VE Day 80 Commemoration held on Bank Holiday Monday.
An early start for setting up at the Steel Club site that included two car parks, concert room, pavilion and sports field, hosting an array of attractions and fun things to do. Included free children’s funfair rides and free bouncy castle with NW Funfairs, the chance to try playing Boccia, test your rugby skills with Cadishead Rhinos, or even learn how to play bowls on the greens at the Steel Club. Try a penalty shoot out, or football speed shot competition, try Samba Drumming with Jonny Baxter from Cadishead Band, or have a go on the giant Jenga or Connect 4 games.
999 vehicle displays from the Police and Fire Service including a legendary green goddess fire engine and 1964 Hillman Imp Police car. Along with information and fundraising stalls including the Air Ambulance, Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, North West Veterans Corps of Drums, Trafford Veterans, Natural England, Jamie Horrocks Trust, Inner Wheel, Irlam Festival 75, Lady James Hall, the Salford Pie Man, Brownies, Rainbows, Scouts and Cubs, Spearhead Foundation, First Group and Irlam Station, Sea Cadets, Together Family Centre, Irlam Gems Morris Dancers and Salford Sailing Group and a concert from the popular Cadishead Public Band.
One of the many highlights of the day was the VE Day 80 Commemoration Service led by the Rev. Rob Jackson form St. John’s with more than 500 people taking time out from the festivities to join the two minutes silence, wreath laying and service. That included the last post performed by Cadishead Band tutor Grace and the magnificent North West Veterans Corps of Drums that made the remembrance memorable. With wreaths laid by the Mayor of Salford Cllr Tanya Burch, Irlam Rotary President Tony Beckett, veterans, fire and police officers, sea cadets cubs and brownies.
The Mayor enjoyed the event so much that she stayed for four hours! There was even a VE Day Exhibition and Exhibition featuring the Scouting movement locally along with Football and Darts competitions with trophies provided by Irlam Rotary Club.
Irlam Rotary Community Chair and event organiser Bill McLaughlin added, “What a great day and not a bad effort from all those involved in our first ever community fun day. Rotary gave out ‘Ration Books’ for children to take part and try various activities, once completed, swapping their ration book for a Rotary ‘Goody Bag’ that has amongst other things, a set of pencils, sweets, hi vis jacket, keyring, foam frisbee and tooth brush in!
A long day but well worth all the effort over the past six months and something Irlam Rotary Club will be looking to make a regular feature on the local community calendar. Not only putting Irlam Rotary and Irlam Steel Club on the map but also enabling local community groups and good causes to raise funds and awareness for their activities. A personal thank you to all the groups and organisations and volunteers that helped and a special thank you to Kate from the Coop Funeral Care in Cadishead; Duncan Brickhill from Cadishead, Gaz from the Steel Club FC and Sam from the Summer Festival 75 committee who were there to help from 7am in the morning and were the last to leave at gone 5pm, great community spirit! THANK YOU EVERYONE!”
