7:00am Saturday 27th March 2010
By Alana Lewis
The Red Devils free-fall parachute team is to take part in this year’s Chippenham River Festival.
The team will carry out a series of stunts as they descend into Monkton Park at lunchtime on the opening day of the festival, Saturday, August 28.
Organiser John Clark said: “The team from 3 Para of the British Army will do their spectacular demonstration with a variety of canopies, manoeuvres and smoke effects, supported by a full commentary.
“The parachute team will then be happy to mingle with festival-goers and chat about what it is like to be in one of the world’s premier free-fall display teams.”
This is the second River Festival to be organised by New ChAPTER (of the Chippenham and Villages Area Partnership).
Last year’s dragon boat race festival lost thousands of pounds but Mr Clark is convinced this year’s event will break even.
He said: “The festival lost just under £3,000 last year when all the income and expenditure was settled – mainly due to inexperience with the event.
“With the benefit of last year’s experience, we should be able to break even this year, while actually putting on more events.”
He said that this year the decision to go for raft races had been made.
Teams of four or six can take part in the raft race at a cost of £10 per head.
On the Sunday there will also be boat trips, punts and canoes for hire, angling classes and a duck race, as well as a host of activities on the shore.
Mr Clark said: “We would like to see the river awash with punts, canoes, dinghies and sailing boats.
“The riverside should be teaming with ramblers, golfers, joggers, cyclists and picnickers.”
The festival will take place on the weekend of August 28 and 29.
For more information, or to enter the raft race, visit the website www.chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk.
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