2021 Wimborne in Bloom Duck Race Raises Over £1,700

The 21st Wimborne in Bloom August Bank Holiday Weekend Duck Race has raised over £1,700 towards ‘In Bloom’ funds. This was the first fundraising event which we have been able to hold since March 2020 due to the Corona Virus Pandemic and is a most welcome contribution to our somewhat depleted funds.

The Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Cllr Mrs Kelly Webb, the Deputy Mayor Cllr Mrs Carol Butter and the Town Crier Chris Brown together with members of the Wimborne in Bloom Committee launched the Ducks into the River Allen by the Riverside Mews Café Bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 28th August. The ‘ducks’ made a quick dash down the river with the first duck crossing the finishing line behind the Rising Sun Public House in East Street in less than fifteen minutes.

Phot: Kieran Buttler holding his son Charlie, too shy to look at the camera receiving his £50 from the Mayor Cllr Mrs Kelly Webb with Anthony Oliver, Chris Brown and Deputy Mayor Carol Butter....(photo by Christine Oliver)

Once again to meet the demand for tickets some of the ducks were ‘co-owned’ as it would have been impractical to increase beyond a thousand the number of ducks launched into the river. It meant that the prize money could be doubled as both owners would be eligible for the full value of all prizes. In the event two of the winning ducks were ‘co-owned’ and the full list of results is as follows:

1st Duck to cross the line was No: 694 and was co-owned by Sally Marley and four year old Charlie Buttler, who had been bought a 'duck' by his dad Kieran, the winners both won £50. 2nd Duck No: 878 was owned by Georgina Arnold who won £25: 3rd Duck No: 777 was owned by Nicole Stylianou who received £10, the 4th Duck No:148 was Co-owned by Janet Griffin and Peter Bunce who both received £5: 5th Duck No 915 was owned by Lynne Saunders who received £5 and the 6th Duck No: 850 was owned by Christine Clark who also received £5. Last Duck home No: 33 was Co-owned by Isla Bell, who had been bought a ‘duck’ by her mum Francesca who gave her money in place of the bottle of wine she would have won and Pam Dodd who received a bottle of wine. All those who won £5.00 kindly donated their winnings back to Wimborne in Bloom

Photo: Anthony Oliver, Town Crier Chris Brown, Deputy Mayor Cllr Mrs Carol Butter with Sally Marley receiving her £50 from the Mayor Cllr Mrs Kelly Webb...(photo by Christine Oliver)

All ducks had been pre-sold at £1 a time thanks to the Co-Operative Supermarket allowing members of Wimborne in Bloom to sell tickets outside their store.

Richard Nunn, Chairman of Wimborne in Bloom speaking after the Race “thanked everyone who helped with the selling of tickets and all those who purchased ‘Ducks’ in support of Wimborne in Bloom. It really was a happy event especially after the Pandemic Restrictions of the last 18 months. It was great to see all those smiling faces as people followed the race down the river trying to spot their 'duck'. In addition to thanking the Co-Operative Supermarket, he also expressed thanks to the Slocock Trust for the use of the Bridge from which to launch the ducks and the Rising Sun for all their help both at the finishing line, the use of their garden area after the race and indeed for all the ‘ducks’ they sold beforehand.

Our next event is the Open Gardens Day this coming Sunday 5th September.