Two Tewkesbury events will mark first anniversary of floods (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Two Tewkesbury events will mark first anniversary of floods

4:42pm Wednesday 16th July 2008 in News

TWO events in Tewkesbury this weekend will mark the first anniversary of the floods which affected thousands of lives at this time last year.

The Over The Rainbow festival and The Blue Wave are both taking place on Sunday, July 20. The two community events have been organised for differing reasons but both will bring the town together for a day of celebration and reflection.

Over The Rainbow begins at 10am with a service in Tewkesbury Abbey, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio Gloucester. At 11am the entertainment will include puppets, clowns and stilt walkers with youngsters being given the chance to learn circus skills or have their face painted.

There is also a market with a range of stalls, bar and refreshments with children asked to come in fancy dress in a Wizard of Oz theme.

One of the main events of the day will be a chance to hug the Abbey. The encircling of the Abbey will happen at noon and will be captured in an aerial photograph just like the picture of it surrounded by flood water last year.

The Blue Wave is also taking place on Sunday and will remember three Tewkesbury men who lost their lives in the floods.

Residents will meet in the Crescent for prayers led by Rev Bill O'Leary and observe a three minute silence in memory of Mitch Taylor, Bram Lane and Chris Lane.

They will march down Gander Lane to the rugby club where father and son Bram and Chris Lane died, to be addressed by town mayor Barbara Cromwell and borough mayor Brian Calway.

Those who died will be remembered in an evening concert in which local band Spunge have gained special permission from the estate of Bob Marley to adapt the words of No Woman No Cry and will dedicate the song to the victims.