Aylsham Olympic Relay

Aylsham’s Town Clerk, Mo Anderson-Dungar tells us more about the Olympic torch relay that passed through on 4th July.

“Aylsham had a full day of events leading up to and beyond the visit of the torch – from 12 noon the Market Place took on an air of café culture with tables and chairs in the sunshine, and a whole range of entertainment from art to zumba and everything inbetween – chess, table tennis, football, netball, tennis, jazz, vocalist Sam(antha) Coe, graffiti artist Mik Richardson, street entertainer Paul the Incredible with his diabolo, hula hoops and juggling;  buskers, barrel organ, book for the Aylsham Players’ next production; in the town hall you could try your hand at kurling, find out about the Ramblers Association – and after you’d done everything you could have your blood pressure taken and sign up for the community gym!

Those who wanted something a bit different could go on an escorted fitness walk around the town organised by FIT Together.

Oh and you could eat and shop as well – restaurants and shops stayed open throughout the day, and there was a BBQ and hog roast on the Market Place.

In a quieter moment children could make their own Olympic torches at a workshop in the church, where you could also find out about researching family history.  The Heritage Centre was heaving all day with much interest in their latest photographic exhibition and the archive in general.

After the excitement of the torch relay, the focus shifted to the Recreation Ground for Roc on the Rec – an evening of live bands to cater for all ages and tastes from Boom Room – a group of Aylsham High School students who had made their own musical instruments as part of a music project with Norwich’s Theatre Royal, through to comedy band I Was Once a Dinosaur,  (see also their twitter comments!) Rampant Horse; Indie-style band Attention to Detail  (ex-Aylsham High School students who are well known locally) and the finale of the Booze Brothers.

All in all a great day!”