Information on Loughborough

Loughborough Canal Festival a Great Success

Posted on 03/05/2008

Fire breather at Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival

What ever you wanted be it a coracle, a Cornetto or some candy floss, perhaps a burger or a marine battery, even a fire breather or a breath of fresh air then the Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival was the place to be this weekend.

The annual two day event has been running since 1997 proved to be yet again a major attraction to the residents of Loughborough, Charnwood and further afield. The weather, which had been forecast to be rainy today (Sunday 4th May 2008) stayed fine apart from a light sprinkling towards the end of the day. However even with the light rain people carried on regardless.

Amongst the festivities were the team from Bill Brookman Productions who are based on Ashby Road. Every time they performed they drew a large crowd of children and adults to watch and listen to the performance they were putting on. We found the fire breathing extremely impressive [If you are reading this Bill, please, please,please teach me!]. Bill even managed to enlist the help of the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Mike Jones, to help protect the accordion player from the rain.

Canal Boats on the Loughborough Canal

The days events were concluded just after 4:30pm with the release of hundred of helium filled red balloons as part of a balloon race on behalf of the British Lung Foundation. The balloons were released by Mike Jones and his wife Marj.

High praise must go to the organisers of the event without whose efforts behind the scenes for may months such a wonderful days entertainment would occur. We spoke to Mike Clowes who works at Loughborough University. Mike started the first festival and we joking asked if he ever says to himself afterwards "never again". He replied that he doesn’t as he really enjoys organising it - and long may he do so.

Balloon Race

There are over 300 pictures in the albums from Saturday and Sunday