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Waltham Abbey's Terrific Town Show

Bryn Elliott, organiser of the Town Show said: "It's been a brilliant year, without a doubt.  The new attractions from Stardust UK went down very well and brought new people too. Everyone has been telling me it's the best town show yet." 

The weather was glorious for the annual Waltham Abbey Town Show held on Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June although the rain put a bit of a dampener on the funfair on the Saturday night, the sun shone down during the day all weekend.

8,000+ people enjoyed free entry to the two day event at Town Mead Leisure Park and there was certainly a lot to see and do for all the family including: funfair, craft marquee, music and dance acts, re-enactment group, steam engines, classic cars display, playground, kids go-karting, climbing wall, donkey rides and a Punch and Judy show for the little ones.

There was a continuous stream of people taking the opportunity to ride in the ever popular Excel Charter helicopter for the unique experience of viewing the town and parkland from the air, plus the new Olympic White Water Canoe Centre development.  The Essex Air Ambulance helicopter also made an appearance on Sunday afternoon.

The highlight of the weekend came on Sunday afternoon with the arrival of celebrity chat show host Jerry Springer, who arrived in style on the back of Firehouse Playcentre's geniune American firetruck driven by former Mayor Stuart Pryde and standing alongside our new American Mayor Ricki Gadsby.  News had obviously spread quickly through the town that Jerry would be making a guest appearance as he was surrounded by fans requesting autographs before taking up his official position of umpire on the baseball field.

Jerry is an avid baseball fan and is currently starring in Chicago stage show at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End.  He attended the London Metros v Essex Arrows game on 21st June and was invited to umpire in Waltham Abbey on 28th June, but he already had other commitments.  However, he reconsidered and re-scheduled his day and arrived in time to umpire the second of the double header.  It was certainly a memorable day for the Arrows as not only did they  have Jerry as umpire, Mayor Ricki Gadsby threw the first pitch and the team were victorious winners of the double header league game against the Southampton Mustangs! 

44th East Essex Regiment of Foot in period costume were on hand to explain how their forebears fought wars and survived in Victorian times in their encampment and put young new recruits through their paces.  For more information on this re-enactment group, please see their website: 44th East Essex

The stage hosted a variety of acts over the weekend - local band The Strategy performed on Saturday and Epping Forest Brass Band and Stardust UK's Zoil Foundation with their upbeat dance music on Sunday, plus dance demonstrations from Ultimate Moves and Bellydancing from Samantha. 

The craft fair had a variety of different stalls and the marquee also featured displays from the Waltham Abbey Floral Art Society and Ray Sears extensive photographic collection of Waltham Abbey's past.  If you enjoyed browsing these photos you may like to take a look at his and Jonathan Foster's website: Waltham Abbey Archive.

Stuart and Lisa Pryde had a stand promoting their Firehouse Playcentre on Brooker Road with children's activities and a balloon race which launched at the end of each day filling the sky with red and yellow balloons.

New for 2009 was Mauritius Day on Sunday when Stardust UK brought a tropical flavour from the beautiful island with their brand of music, food and entertainment. 

A wide selection of food was available which was enhanced on Sunday with the Stardust UK stalls, we enjoyed a wonderful curry from Muhinur on Sunday (Tandoori House restaurant located in 1 Greenyard, EN9 1RD in the Town Centre) and we caught the new and the former Mayor at that stall too (pictured right).

Hope you enjoyed the Town Show this year, if you didn't go, make sure you don't miss next year's weekend event which will be held on 26th & 27th June 2010.  What did you think of this year's event?  Any new ideas for next year? Please comment below and/or send your photos to be included in this review to: jeffen9@aboutmyarea.co.uk

We would like to thank Bryn Elliott and the Waltham Abbey Festival Week committee for allowing us to display the AboutMyArea EN9 promotional banner on the stage area and craft marquee and for the opportunity to give out leaflets and balloons on the day. 

Also many thanks for our friend Donna and her family for helping to give out leaflets and balloons with us, pictured below with her son Connor enjoying the Funfair Waltzer and above getting an autograph from Jerry Springer!

For more information on this year's and next year's Town Show, please see their website: Waltham Abbey Town Show

For more information on the Essex Arrows Baseball Club, please see their website: Essex Arrows

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