A Festive Day of Vibrant Colour at the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend…
The Sun shone benevolently down, the street vendors and the entertainers made the last minute tweaks to their displays, and the stewards took up their places as the coachloads of visitors descended on a famous, very popular, and long established charitable event. The scene was set for the return of the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend, held on the 19th and 20th of March, normally an annual two day happening, which unfortunately had to be curtailed for two seasons due to the dreaded pandemic.
The organisers and staff admirably handled the massive prebooked crowds, 10,000 all told over the Saturday and Sunday, who contributed to raising a whopping £70,000 towards The Royal Papworth Charity, the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and various local charities, all of which were the original chosen ones for the planned 2020 event had it taken place. The details of how the amounts are going to be distributed will be announced at a later date. 
The many visitors, to this the 52nd such event, were very adequately catered for with the exciting wealth of food providers available to tempt the taste buds of all types from vegan to meat specialists with the vast varied collection offering their wares in the Taste of Thriplow marquee, to the Real German Sausage purveyor, and the many specialist stalls scattered around the Green. There were an exciting number of craft, clothing, garden furniture and floral outlets also in this vicinity where the Smithy was busy demonstrating the traditional art of forging horseshoes. In all, there were over 100 stalls throughout the village.
The historic 12th. Century St. George’s Parish Church produced a flower festival, plus a variety of other interesting activities including bric-a-brac and bookstall, and bell ringing. Dan Chidgey and Robert Pumfrey proudly displayed their 1917 Aveling and Porter traction engine, and there was a grand collection of classic cars and vintage tractor rides. A Civil War re-enactment created plenty of attention.
Old stalwarts, Arthur and Alfie , the cart horses, were busy plying visitors along their usual route, whilst Honey Boo, the miniature rescue Shetland Pony was a centre of attraction. 
There was music in abundance including gigs, solo artists, and further entertainment from the Gog Magog Molly group and the Holt Ridge Morris Dancers.
All of this great carnival atmosphere fronted a magnificent backdrop of half a million dazzling daffodil plants, comprising no less than 70 varying varieties, planted by 350 local volunteers. 
The organisers have posted a Facebook thank you message to all the visitors and announced the date for next year as 25-26th March.
Article & Photography supplied by Clive Porter
