Marines pull out of festival as Navy battles to cut costs

A Royal Marines display team, one of the highlights of the Dales festival of Food and Drink in Leyburn, have been forced to pull out of this year's event due to Royal Navy cuts.

Last year's festival saw the Marines set up a climbing wall and recruitment stand while two NCOs even gave a talk in the Richard Whitley Pavilion.

Eyebrows have been raised over the decision since the region is a good recruiting ground for the Royal Navy with 30 per cent from the North of England.

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Spokesman for the festival Gerald Hodgson said: "We are disappointed but we understand the pressures on the time and resources of our armed forces. However there will be lots to see and do over the weekend."

An MoD spokesman said: "To enable naval recruitment to meet its core tasks in a more cost effective way Naval Service participation in some public events has been curtailed so that taxpayers money can be targeted to best effect.

"The Leyburn Festival of Food and Drink is one of the events participation in which we regretfully, have not been able to justify on this occasion."

Held over the May Bank Holiday weekend, last year the festival was visited by over 15,000 people from all over the region. There are over 80-85 stalls featuring local food products and award-winning beers within the festival's own Drinks Marquee and Beer Festival.

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Altogether some 40 small breweries are represented. The Farming for Food events include talks on beekeeping and demonstrations of farming skills such as sheep shearing and dry stone walling.

Other highlights include live cookery demonstrations from the region's top chefs, live music from local bands, morris dancing, sword dancing, a Speakers Corner featuring established authors and speakers, rides and entertainment.

n For the first time since 1963 the Wensleydale Agricultural Show is to feature Poultry classes. There will be over 60 classes ranging from large fowls to true bantams and an egg section.

Poultry was removed from the show schedule in 1963, as there were at the time very few local entries. The show committee minutes for 1963 record that a saving of 40 to 50 could be made if a class was removed.