The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Laughing and Singing in the Rain at the CH64 Big Lunch

The wet weather didn't dampen the fun at this year's CH64 Big Lunch, as the event moved to Neston Community Youth Centre.

Performances from an array of local talent moved indoors, while bush crafts from Ranger Dan held children transfixed outdoors.

Singing in the rain - buskers from Hip & Harmony's Music Zone entertained at the CH64 Big Lunch

The date of the Big Lunch moved to mark the 90th birthday celebrations, so it didn't enjoy the heatwave that Ladies Day had this year. But the smaller space still allowed all but a couple of the planned activities to go ahead.

Children raced around outside for the nature hunt, volunteers facepainted practically all the children (and quite a few adults), and plenty of people enjoyed gorgeous icecream from Hyacinth's vintage ice cream cart.

NCYC's Youth Zone was packed for the performances by Little Actors and the Hip & Harmony Community Choir and Street Dancers, while duo Danni and Charlie, and buskers Ben and Kit from H & H's Music Zone project, kept up a stream of contemporary acoustic melodies outside for the whole of the event.

People loved the dance and drumming workshops from Emily and Felix Ngindu respectively, and people kept warm and dry while they picnicked or played with the giant games in adjoining rooms.

Ranger Dan built a den with sycamore branches and tarp that children loved, but they were even more captivated by watching him create fire with traditional friction and flint methods, and yet more captivated when they got to have a go themselves. Wood whittling and stone balancing were other activities that the children really enjoyed.

Organiser Paula Prytherch said: "The rain didn't dampen anyone's spirits.  The atmosphere was buzzing - there was so much going on and everyone was dry!

"The performances from our local groups received a wonderful reception and we had lots of people expressing interest in joining. It was a case of Big Lunch, Big Success."

Many people reported a preference for the indoors/outdoors venue, and there was definitely a more communal atmosphere inside the centre. All in all, another great CH64 Big Lunch for Neston and an event to be proud of for volunteers and organisers Hip & Harmony CIC and Neston Community Youth Centre. Many thanks to Neston Town Council for funding the event and Neston Community Youth Centre for free use of the venue.

All photos are courtesy of Linda Pelling.

Organisers included Zaria Shreef, centre.

Hip & Harmony CIC's Paula Prytherch (r) and Carrie Spacey

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