The first ever Wimborne Minster Family Fun day took place in September, in order to raise funds for Minster Makes Music.
The original plan was for a Saturday in July, but it was postponed due to Covid restrictions, and fortunately the warm, sunny weather was worthy of a July day.
The event was formally opened by the Mayor, commentary was provided by Radio Wimborne, and a Marching band and a piper performed during the morning. The Green was covered in stalls selling books, jigsaws, pottery, and bric a brac, and a Climbing Wall.
Originally, it was suggested that the Andrew the Rector could abseil down the Bell Tower, on the annual church Fun Day. However, when Elf and Safety were consulted, the plan was given a thumbs down. How much better (ringers Rob and Hilary reasoned) to set up a zip wire and encourage people to bring their teddies along, and let them fly down from tower to green. They sourced pre-tested teddy harnesses (in a variety of sizes), from the Ringers at St Mary’s Church Lytchett Matravers, and spent a cheerful Saturday morning, a fortnight in advance, checking that the zip wire worked. Secure harnesses for the 2 tower-top volunteers were essential – the parapet suddenly seems very flimsy when you are dangling teddies over it, and (rather than expect humans to repeatedly run up the tower with armfuls of teddies), the band devised a bucket and pulley system to allow the brave ursids to ascend.
In order to run the zip wire for 4 hours, and provide a series of Tower Tours, serious manpower was required, and in the event, 12 members of the Minster Band shared the efforts.
Demand for the zipwire was unexpectedly strong – the biggest surprise was the number of adults who brought along teddies, and enjoyed themselves just as much as the kids.
With commentary from Radio Wimborne, the first 4 “flights” of teddies were processed in the first hour. At first we fumbled the teddies into their harnesses and the certificates blew around in the breeze, there were difficulties getting the teddies out of the bucket at the top of the tower, and a couple of people accidentally missed their teddy’s flight and so we had to send them up for a second time. But once we got the hang of it, it was quite honestly a brilliant day, and a privilege to meet so many nice teddy-owners.
Some of the parents asked anxiously whether the teddies got very nervous (it seemed they only did during the bucket ride – they all looked pretty happy on the wire). None of the kids were concerned, they knew their teddies were brave!
Between 10 and 2, we flew teddies, rabbits, a sparkly dog, an orangutan and a Barbie. Also a couple of creatures of ambiguous species. Before we even started flights, we already had a dozen bears queueing patiently for their turn. Once down, each teddy was presented with a certificate of bravery and a solemn handshake.
We have various notes to self for next year:
– Bring a thermos and lots of sandwiches. You will not get a break.
– Allow for 12 bears an hour. All the harnessing and hauling and flying and certificate writing takes time.
– Make some really small harnesses. Small teddies are very common, and Barbies and their like are exceedingly slim!
– Be prepared to re-fly teddies if their owners accidentally blink or get distracted.
Meanwhile, back in the ringing chamber…
The Ringers ran half-hourly Tower Tours, and a lot of the customers seem to have been originally attracted by the teddy zipwire. A table of teddies is more intriguing than a table simply advertising tower tours! The customers were enthusiastic and appreciative, and some were obviously really amazed to see people actually ringing. A couple put their names down to start learning to ring.
And the Rector?
He got his adrenaline rush by ascending the Climbing Wall with commentary from Radio Wimborne, and later he flew his teddy. I don’t think he was disappointed with the day!
Thank you to Ros for the brilliant write up!
Wimborne Minster Bell Ringers 