Thirsk Festival and Funfair2

While armchair sportsfans were watching the Olympic Games and young people were doing incredible things and winning medals for it, your correspondents were out and about at the Thirsk Music Festival in the market place on Sunday.The weather looked decidedly ominous. No sooner had the Thirsk Royal British Legion Band opened proceedings than the rain came tumbling down and they had to take refuge. They were able to emerge from cover after a few minutes and gave us an enjoyable programme.I pitied the Punch and Judy man. You can’t sit a small audience down in the rain.Every so often, the rain stopped again, and the sun shone. My friend had what everyone needs at one of these events: an umbrella and sunglasses. The brighter weather drew more people out to see what was on offer. After the band, other singers and groups filled the square with sound. Ozzy swung to the music of Frank Sinatra. Dead Beat Dawn looked smart in black shirts and orange ties. I suffered brief tinnitus from Pop Trash, but it was my fault for being too near the massive loudspeakers (and that was nothing to do with there being three pretty girls in the group). The International Market offered a range of goods, some exotic things to eat such as brokwurst, or cake from Holland, and some to wear, or decorate the living room. Thirsk Clock was open and offering snacks. What can I say about the Funfair? It was for those who don’t mind being disconnected from their stomachs. The “Licensed the Thrill” ride spun people up in the air and dropped them down, then went into reverse and did it all again. The Crooked House seemed to be tossing people about too. The big pink slide looked the most fun, but even so I decided just to watch. Event co-ordinator Colin Musgrave, looking distinctly Australian, was there to see that all ran smoothly. Round the back of the stage I found a tiny outside broadcast studio. Minster Northallerton no longer have a studio in Northallerton, but their presence in the area is as strong. With radio you don’t need a studio, just a small table, a clock, a set of headphones, a microphone, and, oh yes, a tent to keep the rain off. The DJ Chris Hakin read the weather forecast, but it contained no surprises. I just looked up to see how much of the sky was blue and how much dark grey.The weather drove me indoors to the annual model railway exhibition, held this year in the town hall. On display were the products of many hours of effort and skill - and fun, recreating or just inventing the railway scene of other places and times. There were American and British layouts, all brought in car boots and vans and set up for the day. There are several different popular sizes, from the easy-to-handle “O” to the miniscule “n” gauge, which at least enables you to pop a whole locomotive in your jacket pocket. It would be invidious to pick out one above the other, so here goes. David Gray brought his O gauge layout, showing a mythical station called Pencombe in North Devon in the 1970’s, with a long-gone type of diesel from the days when steam was on the way out. A “Warrior” class may have taken you on holiday to the west country. The detail is fine, and the engines have the latest technology and even make the sound of the original locos. So was it a good day? I think it was. This year’s small Festival had something for most folk, and even with the dodgy weather you could enjoy yourself. This is what market squares are for.


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