Festival spirits dampened by weather

Typical North Craven weather did its best to turn the Festival of Fire and Light into a damp squib but organisers battled on and succeeded in bringing an estimated 1,000 visitors into the village.

Just a day before the festival began glorious sunshine shone on the peak but the mini-heatwave lasted just a day and organisers awoke on Friday to find the clouds had gathered.

Undaunted the Laser Light Company intrepidly set off up Ingleborough to stage the lasers and battled their way to the top. However, as the mist descended in the evening the beam couldn't be seen by visitors gathered below at the Hill Inn.

One of the organisers, Gerald Tyler, said: "We had both a disaster and lots of success at the same time. The weather was absolutely dreadful. It was blowing a gale on Ingleborough and the mist came down so nothing could get through that.

"There was a good crowd at the Hill Inn on Friday night of about 400 brave souls who braved the winds. Saturday night was much better from a weather point of view with about 600 people. The music was good and the laser lights, which were in the car park were absolutely excellent.

"The fireworks were the grand finale and they were terrific, because of the problems the Laser Light Company put on extra fireworks which was great."

Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band raised spirits with a rendition of the National Anthem and groups Spinning Jelly, Magentic North and TomCat together with vocalists Alan Perrow, George Speller, Jon Hauxwell, Paul Hudson and Lucy Speller attempted to warm up the crowd.

The laser lights, pin-point green beams, projected shapes and pictures on the walls of the Hill Inn and adjoining barn. The neighbouring hillside was also used to show a continuous stream of images and adverts for the sponsors of the event. But sadly no beam of light came down from Ingleborough.

However, in the finale the 1812 Overture belted out over the loudspeakers, the laser lights pulsed and fireworks lit up the sky.

Sabena Martin, landlady of the Hill Inn, who didn't organise the event, said: "On the first night the winds were about 100mph on Ingleborough. They tried to shine them through the mist but they couldn't be seen. But when they did get it together with the music, lasers in the car park and fireworks it was good."

To make matters worse the pub had its old pine wheelbarrow, which stands at the front, stolen.

Meanwhile, down in the village, visitors enjoyed an array of attractions including the Milnthorpe Steel Band, juggler, fire eater, stilt walkers, maypole dancing and circus artists. Local potter Dick Unsworth encouraged visitors to try their hand at throwing a pot and the ten foot tall Captain Clueless entertained children.

A flower festival, staged by the Craven Flower Club at St Mary's Church, organised by Janice Howson, also proved very popular. The flowers followed the theme of Fire and Light with yellow and orange displays near the entrance depicting light, leading up to the high altar where the brilliant red hues represented fire.

The project was funded through a £20,000 Yorkshire Forward grant to revitalise the area following the foot and mouth outbreak. Eleven thousand pounds was spent organising the event and what's left will be used to erect finger pointers and visitor signs in Ingleton and to create a publicity leaflet promoting the village.

Despite the weather, traders reported increased takings and it is hoped many of the visitors will return.

Chris Bonsall, of Ingleton and District Tradespeople Association, said: "This was all about bringing people in and the flower festival went very well.

"There were a lot of people around and takings were up and the accommodation was full. People will come back again now they have found us."

Keith Flunder of the Laser Light Company told the Herald they had done the best they could in the circumstances and they couldn't do anything about the weather.

Anyone who may have spotted the Hill Inn's wheelbarrow should call the pub on 015242 41256 or the police on 01756 793377.