HIGH winds, the threat of rain and a coronavirus lockdown could not spoil the fun of the traditional Barnard Castle Meet after a group of fundraising volunteers took the popular Whit weekend celebrations online.
Covid Cutz, who have been raising funds for the NHS and local care homes since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, put together a packed schedule.
Alex Humphries and Tom Howe, from the fundraising group, asked residents to get behind the virtual Meet, which included hours of live music from local performers, an online pet show, housebound scavenger hunt and a evening of crazy bingo.
The pinnacle of the weekend was the virtual procession created with a compilation of photographs and videos of people on their doorsteps and in gardens.
The filming, which took six hours to complete, saw Mr Howe and Mr Humphries, supported by Katy, Nathan and Michelle Richards, tour the town on Friday in full drag outfits, causing hilarity among passers-by.
Mr Humphries said: “I don’t think anyone’s going to forget the Meet this year. It’s amazing how people have really got behind it.
“We came up with the idea, put it together in five days and were able to do it because we’ve got some great people involved and the whole community really got behind it.”
The Meet weekend fun kicked off on Saturday at noon with six hours of live, streamed music from local artists with thousands tuning in throughout the afternoon.
Then in the evening it was eyes down for a night of prize bingo, with Mr Howe as the trusty caller. A housebound scavenger hunt kept children of all ages entertained trying to find a list of unusual objects from around their homes.
Fancy dress prizes went to the Dunnill family’s Barney Bandit display; Amanda and Phil Harrison’s Hippies and the three queens – Pamela Dixon, Gillian Harle and Kathleen Butcher.
A special best street achievement award was given to the residents of Kirk View who all got involved flying flags and bunting as well as causing lots of hilarity with a tableau of the Wizard of Oz.
The honorary title of Meet queen went to Flora Wright and her attendant Pauline Glasper.
A pet show saw more than 200 entries aim for top spot in six categories. Judges Grace Howard and Beverleyann Wilson had a tough job choosing the winners.
The pet with the waggiest tail was Teresa Keeling’s Mallory. In second place was Richard Healy’s dog, Django and in third was Danielle Scarr’s Dudley.
Brightest eyes: 1, Marla – Lucy Brown; 2, Bella – Andrea Dye; 3, Molly – Rebecca Jayne Coltman.
Best trick: 1, Loll Cairns – synchronised tricks with Kayla the German Shepherd; 2, Shauna Mckie’s Benson won the hearts of the judges for second place with his paw, paw trick; 3, Charlotte Breese – buster the footballer.
The vacuum loving Labrador of Yvonne Metcalfe took first place in the wildcard section.
In the non-canine section Emma Walker’s pet lamb, Rosemary came top.
In the best rescue category Aurora was top dog having been brought to England from a shelter in Romania by owner Lucy Robinson.
Throughout the weekend Covid Cutz continued to raise money to fund care packages for Middleton Care patients having already supplied packages to care homes in Barnard Castle and funds to three different hospitals. To date the group’s various activities have helped raise more than £7,400.
Loads more pictures in our eight page pullout in this week’s Mercury
