Codicote Village Day parade in pictures

By Ross Logan, Reporter Thursday, July 26, 2012
12:00 PM

A LAST-MINUTE venue switch could not prevent this year’s Codicote Village Day being yet another huge success.

Dr Who float

Hundreds turned out for the annual parade and fun day, which unlike last year enjoyed mainly sunny skies and warmer weather.

This year’s festival was themed around Space, and onlookers saw a variety of cosmic characters make their way along High Street and Bury Lane.

Well-known space travellers seen enjoying the day included evil Sith Lord Darth Vader and Doctor Who, accompanied by his trusty TARDIS and the fearsome Daleks.

And although the rain held off on the day, the recent downpours almost managed to scupper villagers’ best laid plans.

Flash Gordon float

The usual afternoon of events, activities and shows had to be moved at the last minute from the Bury Lane recreation ground to a neighbouring field owned by Village Day chairman Charlie Unwin.

But if anything, the relocation only enhanced the day.

Graham Dovey, landlord of The Goat pub in High Street, said: “It was really good.

“The weather was with us and everyone had a nice time.

Flash Gordon float

“Because we had all that rain we had to move from one field to another.

“The field we use every year has a cricket and a football pitch on it, and because of the rain we would have destroyed them.

“So we had to use a neighbouring field owned by Charlie Unwin. We had to rush and get the grass cut in time, but actually it was like a real country fair with better views.

“It was very, very well attended and it went brilliantly.”