Heanor - Market Towns' Week
w/e 08 May 2005
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Market Towns' Week, organised by ‘Action for Market Towns’
is designed to showcase projects aimed at regenerating market
towns. Ilkeston's close neighbour, Heanor is one of the East
Midlands' towns taking part with the aim of bringing local communities
together and attracting visitors into the region's many market
towns. On a busy May Bank Holiday Monday in Heanor the first
of a week long series of events was held where else but in the
town's market place directly opposite the banner emblazoned Town
Hall.
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Town Crier Harry Bodkin introduced the Mayor who opened the event
while Sue Worrall, appropriately dressed to match the Victorian
Market theme were just two of the colourful characters present
and the Punch and Judy man waited for the designated time to
perform his first show. "That's the way to do it!"
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A barrel organ contributed to the old time atmosphere while the
entertainers "What A Palaver" left their bed of nails
to befriend Sharon Brown and momentarily prevent her from distributing
a basketful of lollipops. Guitar, fiddle and accordion provided
more music and accompanied the May Pole dancers.
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The dancers, the Heage Windmillers, delighted the crowd with
a variety of traditional routines around a static May Pole while
more of their number clad in bright blue, red and yellow tunics
performed clog dances around poles of a portable nature.
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Traders and charity stalls were selling a variety of goods and
wares including hand made greetings cards, sweets and novelty
items but the term "Victorian" was perhaps a shade
too far.
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Events were held every day of the week and by Friday the Victorian
Market had given way to a French Market. This was a more authentic
description with many continental goods on offer. Aromas of cheeses,
olives, breads and garlic permeated the senses and basketware
and jewellery could also be purchased. However with French loaves
priced at £10.00 each, pastries at £2.50 and helpings
of potatoes and sausages at £5.50, I don't think trade
was very brisk. Perhaps our continental friends had become confused
with the exchange rate but if that's the effect of the Euro,
I'd rather go back to LSD. For those who don't know, that's not
a drug but stands for pounds, shillings and pence and and is
what we used for currency before decimalisation in 1971.
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