Thousands jostle for pole position in the rain
The Barwick in Elmet Maypole is lowered into place, after being carried to the site by volunteers. Pictures: Bruce Rollinson
People turned out in droves to join the Maypole Festival in Barwick in Elmet yesterday, defying a traditional bank holiday downpour.
The triennial festival, which was last held in 2008 in the village near Leeds, attracted thousands.
Onlookers watched in anticipation as the 86ft maypole, which weighed 1.2 tonnes, was raised into position using a crane.
Annette Shepherd, landlady of the New Inn in Barwick in Elmet, said: “There was a massive turnout. The weather has been disappointing, we have had rain all day.
“Typical English, though, aren’t we? We just get on with it.”
The pub’s landlord, Gary Shepherd, led a procession of local schoolchildren through the village.
Chris Brown, 30, marked the climax of the festival when he successfully scaled the pole before spinning a fox weather vane at the top. Nigel Trotter, chairman of the Barwick in Elmet Maypole Trust Committee, said: “He did it very easily, it was a very fast climb with no hesitation.
“He had done a lot of training. We have a pole on a farm nearby and he had been up and down that a lot, practising.”
Despite the day’s wet weather, the sun came out just in time to light up the daring climb.
Mr Trotter said: “We were very fortunate. If it had been very wet on the pole there is nothing to hang onto.”
Members of the Barwick in Elmet Maypole Trust Committee have spent the last few months finalising plans for the event.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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