Chadkirk Festival and Well-dressing Summer 2007 

    On Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend in July several U3A members – along with some three to four 
    thousand other visitors! – enjoyed glorious sunshine at the Chadkirk Summer Festival.  The lawn and the 
    walled garden, as well as the chapel itself, were filled with stalls selling a wide range of products – food,
    plants, cards, trinkets and     many others.  There were new attractions such as the tree sculptor who spent 
    Saturday afternoon entertaining the crowds by creating exciting sculptures with a chain saw.  There was
    a magician for the children, handbell ringers and the Adlington Dancers  who encouraged visitors to join
    in their dances. 

    On Sunday, Marple Band played throughout the afternoon and there were circus skills which kept adults as
    well as children enthralled.  The Friends of Chadkirk served scones with cream and strawberries as well 
    as selling raffle  tickets in aid of Christie Hospital.  The Friends also provided amusement for the children
    with a mask-making stall. 

    The highlight of the weekend was the well-dressing which had been painstakingly created during the week 
    before by a team of flower arrangers.  

    The Mayor and Mayoress of Stockport opened the Festival on Saturday and then toured the grounds meeting 
    stall-holders and visitors. 

    After weeks of heavy rain which had resulted in the field normally used for parking being under water the
    decision to allow the Festival to go ahead was not made until just a few days before the due date.  In the 
    event it was one of the sunniest weekends of the year and, consequently, a huge success in every way.