BEDALE Festival has been acclaimed as a resounding success after attracting what is thought to be a record attendance.
The park beside Bedale Hall was packed for the afternoon’s events, which were organised by Bedale Scouts and Guides, and the crowds included the Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.
He helped judge the parade floats with the Rector of Bedale, the Rev Ian Robinson, and Det Supt Mick Hunter and was also given the task of deciding who was the best young handler in the dog show.
The parade set off from Benkhill Road and passed through the town centre to Bedale Hall for the judging. The winners in the scout and guide section were Bedale Brownies and Aiskew Under Fives in the pre-schools section.
The event also featured live music, food and drink stalls and, for the first time, a Bedale Bake Off which attracted entries from young children to the elderly.
Event organiser Claire Mosby, of Bedale Scouts and Guides, said there had been an excellent attendance, considerably up on last year’s event which was affected by bad weather.
She said: “We don’t know the exact numbers because there is no entry charge but most people seem to think it was our best-ever attendance.”
She added that the event should raise more than £2,500 for the scouts who are currently raising money to convert the old fire station buildings on their site to house a climbing wall and the Bedale Community Minibus.
Mr Sunak said it had been pleasure to attend the event. “This is a great community occasion which raised money for a strong and growing youth organisation which contributes so much to the town.
“I particularly enjoyed getting a soaking in the senior scouts’ stocks. It was in aid of a very good cause – their coming expedition to Mongolia.”
Bedale Scounts and Guides new headquarters in Emgate were opened two years ago by Mr Sunak’s predecessor as Richmond MP, William, now Lord, Hague.