Wa-ter day! Waterways Festival hailed a success

Crowds enjoy the sunshine at the Waterways Festival at Victoria Park

PEG legs and pirates rode the high seas of Newbury at the weekend – or at least the Kennet and Avon Canal – as the annual Waterways Festival sailed into town.

This year’s theme – Pirates of the Kennet and Avon Canal – saw a flotilla of boats line up at Newbury’s Victoria Park on Sunday, each kitted out in black flags and pirate-themed outfits.

Last year’s event, which saw a Viking invasion take over the town, was dampened by rain, but this year was well attended, with hundreds enjoying the sunshine and a host of stalls and entertainment on offer at Victoria Park.

After music from The Kevin O’Regan Band and Irish dancing and flute playing by Katie, the festival concluded with the traditional duck race when hundreds of ducks, yellow and blue, ‘raced’ down the canal to the finish.

Winning duck 631 was won by a “delighted” Pauline Wilson.

Terry Gray won the best dressed boat award for the vessel and the ran trips up and down the canal throughout the day.

Festival director Rob Dean said: “The festival was a great success for both the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, our partners The Canal and River Trust and the many other charities who engaged with the thousands of visitors and raised a little money for their cause.”