Ringing the abbey (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Ringing the abbey

8:39am Tuesday 22nd July 2008 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

AROUND a thousand people linked arms around the abbey on Sunday in an effort to wipe out the image of the church surrounded by murky flood water and replace it with one of happy smiling faces.

This was just one highlight of Over the Rainbow - a fun filled day, with entertainment, live music, a pig roast and much more, all in the fields behind the abbey, which, this time last year were covered with several feet of brown water.

In the evening a concert, headlined by top local band, spunge attracted around 5,000 people, dancing, jumping, waving their arms and singing along.

It ended with fireworks shooting high into the air from the Abbey Tower, and the church itself lit up in rainbow colours, as the church bells rang out to announce that Tewkesbury really is back in business.

Despite all the fun and activity the day did also have its serious side.

It started with the Blue Wave.

Around 200 people, most dressed in blue, walked from Tewkesbury School to the Crescent, where they stood in silence for three minutes in memory of Bram and Chris Lane and Mitch Taylor, who all lost their lives in the floods.

Town Mayor Coun Mrs Barbara Cromwell almost broke down in tears as she spoke of them.

Rev Canon Paul Williams and Baptist minister Bill O'Leary led prayers for all those still suffering as a result of the floods and for action to be taken that they never happen again.

Speaking after the event Canon Williams said: "It was great, everyone came together and had a good time, which is as it should be.

"I think it gave a lot of confidence back to people."

Ann Hunt, of the White Rose Gallery said that it had certainly brought more people into Church Street.

"It was very successful, can we have one every year - but without the floods," she said.