ORGANISERS of a historic event will cancel this year’s festival rather than postpone until later in the year because of the coronavirus threat.
Barnard Castle Meet committee took the decision last week to cancel this year’s festivities, which are held on the Whit bank holiday weekend in May. Lesley Taylor, from the Meet committee, said: “Having taken advice we have regrettably decided there is no option but to cancel this year’s Meet Weekend events.
“We agreed not to consider postponement until later in the year to provide clarity for all concerned as the situation might not have improved sufficiently by then either.
“We are assured that the road closure for the parade should be re-instated to enable us to hold Meet 2021. There was a break for the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, so our plan is to reconvene later this year to plan for next year.”
Fellow committee member Martyn Maughan added: “Thank you to all our volunteers, local businesses and people who have supported us in our fundraising so far this year.
“We intend to come back next year with a fantastic community weekend. For now, we need to focus on looking out for one another.”
The charity fundraising group The Clique has also shelved plans to run the annual It’s a Knockout event, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 13.
Clique member David Harper said: “We’re going to put it if off for this year with everything that is going on.
“The Clique lads are gutted that it won’t be going ahead, but it’s the responsible thing to do. It’s a contact game and with everything that is going on we all just need to be sensible. We do it to raise money for good causes, but can’t put anyone at risk.
“We’re going to look ahead to next year when we will make the It’s a Knockout bigger and better than ever and hope to be able to announce a date sometime in September.”
Barnard Castle 1940s Weekend has also been cancelled. It was due to take place on for June 20 and 21. Carnival committees in Mickleton and Eggleston have decided not to hold their events this year and will make plans for next summer.
Cotherstone Fun Weekend organisers have decided to postpone their event, which was planned to take place on June 6 and June 7. The committee hopes to reschedule the event later this year and will announce a date nearer the time. Newsham village hall committee have cancelled forthcoming events. In a statement on Thursday, March 17, they said: “Although we’re sad to have to do this, it is the right thing to do at this time.
“In the coming days and weeks, we may have to look at whether future events, which the committee organise should take place, but at the moment we feel we should do our bit.
“These are strange times for everyone.”
