PARTY in the Park returned to Alton on Saturday to raise money for Treloar’s.

This was the 14th staging of the event, organised by Treloar’s and Alton Lions, which was cancelled last year and delayed by two months this time because of Covid-19.

The sun shone and families flocked to the Public Gardens to celebrate life after lockdown.

There was music from guitar, fiddle, bass and drums band No Small Thing, shows by Mr Magic, Punch and Judy, balloon modelling, stalls, games, teas, a barbecue, a gyro wheel and an airborne adventure which let children fly and be weightless.

Tony Vincent drove his pink Cadillac into the park at midday for the opening by deputy town mayor Cllr Ginny Boxall and the Alton Lions mascot, also known as Lion Janet Gwynne.

They were welcomed by Lions president Atul Patel and Treloar Trust fundraising director Jon Colville, who explained how Treloar’s struggled to raise funds during lockdown.

Wey Valley Radio presenter Dean Phillips was in hospital and unable to take on his role as The Greatest Showman alongside fellow master of ceremonies Colin Longley, so a team of Wey Valley Radio presenters stepped in to cover.

Another group, Not Quite Vicky, pulled out at the last minute when their drummer became ill, but band member Peter Haddow acted as sound man for No Small Thing.

There was a tribute to Elvis impersonator Dave Hurrell, a performer at the opening of every previous Party in the Park, who died just days before this year’s show (see Page 27).

He held a Lions International Melvyn Jones Fellowship Award for long service to the community.

Atul Patel gave Alton Lions Certificates of Appreciation to those who helped people in the pandemic, including Bill Griffin and Alton Community Care for taking people to Basingstoke’s Covid-19 vaccination centre, Alton Climate Action Network, van handyman Les Gibbs, Wendy Simson of Alton Town Council, and Sue and Mel Saunders of Alton Lions.

Awards will also go to James Dickens, Lee Beckett and Patrick Sullivan for their work on the Lions’ Laptops for Schools project, and to Ranjan Patel for Lion’s fundraising.

Party in the Park was sponsored by Alton Town Council and the Newbury Building Society, and supported by Wildly Upbeat Printers.

n More pictures will appear in the Herald next week.