WET weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of families, visitors and holidaymakers who played their part in the annual Lyme Regis Easter Bonnet Parade.
The popular event held on Sunday, which took the theme of Beatrix Potter this year, is renowned for attracting a large crowd both in Broad Street and along the seafront.
Rain forced the cancellation of the traditional parade for the first time in 16 years but entrants, who were not deterred by the gloomy weather, headed inside the Lyme Regis Baptist church to parade instead.
Town Crier Alan Vian said: “It is amazing how much trouble everybody took to make the bonnets; the standards become higher every year which is just fantastic.
“Some children had spent a lot of time during their Easter Holiday painstakingly making their hats.
“It was such a shame that the parade had to be cancelled but the event still held a brilliant community atmosphere and people paraded inside the church instead, which was full of people.
“In many ways, this event always sets everybody up for the summer and despite the wet weather everybody had a brilliant time.”
This year children and adults were invited to decorate their hats and bonnets with a Beatrix Potter theme.
Beatrix Potter stayed in Lyme Regis and wrote 'The Tale of Little Pig Robinson' set in the fictional town of 'Stymouth', which is, in part, based on Lyme Regis.
She stayed in what is now the Mariners Hotel in Silver Street, describing Broad Street as 'a lovely street'.
There were prizes in five age groups as well as those for men and women and special prizes for the best under five entry.
The Treetops Cup was presented to the best entry overall.
There were more than 40 entries in the competition which was judged in the warmth of the Baptist Church.
The prizes were presented by cllr Lorna Jenkin representing the town mayor, who was taking part in the exchange visit in St Georges Bermuda.
The organisers would like to thank Judith Pothercary, Colin Boyd of Chics Computers, Belinda Iyavoo from Treetops Residential Care Home, Gail Caddy, and Mike and Claire Moles of Staples Stores for their sponsorship of the event.
AWARDS
AGES 0-3
1st Emilyn Schemri
2nd Jennifer Oswald
3rd Charles Rutherford
4th Ruby Ford
AGES 4-5
1st Bertie Foster
2nd Manon Vigliecch
3rd Willow Voysey
4th Kieron Scott
5th Annabell Andrews
AGES 6-7
1st Belle Hallett
2nd Alice Carr
3rd Eva Hiller-Draper
4th Callum Ford
AGES 8-10
1st Grace Knowles
2nd Katharine Carr
3rd Megan Foster
4th Ella McLachlan
5th Kirston Huxford
6th Ella Parfitt
AGES 11-15
1st Bethany Pomeroy
2nd Megan Voysey
3rd Jasmine Voysey Pushchair
4th Willow Voysey
WOMEN
1st Sue Foster
2nd Lesley Huxford
3rd Elaine Voysey
MEN
1st Mark Foster
BEST OVERALL ENTRY UNDER FIVE
Emilia Schemri
BEST ENTRY OVERALL - THE TREETOPS CUP - MEMORY OF BARBARA AUSTIN MBE
Grace Knowles
BEST ORIGINAL ENTRY - CHICS COMPUTERS CUP
Belle Hallet
BEST OVERALL GROUP ENTRY - THE LYME REGIS EASTER CUP
Pothecary Family
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