Crowds had a splashing good time when they turned out to enjoy fun in the sun at Welney’s water gala.

Cambs Times: Water Gala with Raft Races at Welney. Picture: Steve Williams.Water Gala with Raft Races at Welney. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The family event saw people enjoy a feast of activities during the day followed by a disco at night.

Holly Trundle, one of the organisers, said: “The Gala brought with it an opportunity to pool the resources of our village community. Old hand Gala organisers joined with fledglings to plan the event and bring it to life.”

A new trophy, the Brian Turner Memorial Cup, was donated to celebrate outstanding achievement which was shared by the two raft race teams.

One team with straight line speed and the other with sheer grit and determination as they manoeuvred an unwieldy craft along the Old Bedford River.

Cambs Times: Water Gala with Raft Races at Welney. Clive and Sally Haycock reading the Welney news,Picture: Steve Williams.Water Gala with Raft Races at Welney. Clive and Sally Haycock reading the Welney news,Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

A Molly dancing display was given by a group of children from Welney and Christchurch schools which was an opportunity for them to demonstrate their new-found dancing skills, learnt during the recent joint schools project led by the Ouse Washes Molly Dancers and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Welney WI provided a bounty of raffle prize hampers and shared three display panels of local community history over the last 100 years, to celebrate the group’s centenary.

The Millennium Map took centre stage and was admired by visitors and nostalgic villagers, many of whom had helped create it during a year of learning new crafting skills, like stained glass, pyrography and felt making.

In the evening Chris and Sally Roper set the scene for an night of dancing with a disco.

Gala guests were treated to a performance from Downham Market-based Inspired Choir, who sang a selection of songs acapella.

Holly said: “I would like to thank everyone who gave their time and effort to make it such an enjoyable day. Also, to the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership for supporting our event.”

Next on the calendar organised by The Pavilion Action Team is a car boot and indoor market sales, on the last Sunday of July and August, from 7.30am to noon.