If it’s pomp and circumstance you are after, the Lord Mayor’s Show is hard to beat. And this year, Thriplow decamped to London on the 9th November to help local resident, William Russell, celebrate his election as the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London.
In a first for this amazing event, a village was to take a float in the world’s oldest, longest and most splendid civic procession, joining marching bands, corporate entries, livery companies and charities winding their way past the crowds lining the streets of the City. Our ‘float’ brought together many of the vital strands that bind our village together, with the headmistress and children from the primary school, Angela, our Vicar from St George’s Church, players from the Cricket Club and the Yellow Barrow Display Team, representing just some of the hundreds of volunteers who make our annual Daffodil Weekend such a success. With 150 floats, the logistical organisation of this historic event is a true military operation, in all senses of the word. As float number three, Thriplow Village had to be in place early in the morning, hours before the ‘off’ at 11am. Tom Clarkson, dressed as the fabled Bronze Age chieftain, Tryppa, after whom the village is named, led our float past William and Hilary at The Mansion House. The well-drilled Yellow Barrows broke off from their intricate set of pre-planned manoeuvres to salute the new Lord Mayor, accompanied by cries of Howzat from the cricketers! And what better recognition of our efforts than the dedicated doffing of the tricorn hat we received from William? All along the route, the crowds were delighted by a faultless display of precision barrowing, with each ‘box’, ‘weave’ and ‘twiddle’, greeted by loud cheers, making the hours of practice on the Cricket Meadow totally worthwhile. However, I think I can speak for everyone involved in our float when I say that the undoubted highlight of the morning was the reception we got from the huge Thriplow contingent in the main Grandstand. As the stand came into view, it was a veritable sea of yellow. Villagers, who’d boarded the coach outside the Green Man earlier that morning, were resplendent in yellow hats, holding aloft yellow Thriplow banners. And no-one present on that wonderful day will ever forget the ‘William Russell Fan Club’ T Shirts sported by Mary, Di and Gemma! It’s the people that make a community and our participation in the Lord Mayor’s Show, not only showcased Daffodil Weekend (and caused a big spike in visitors to the website), but also celebrated everyone who makes our village so special. So, thank you to Wing Commander Paul Earnshaw for leading the Yellow Barrows, to the Cricket Club, the School and to Angela, as well as everyone who made the trip down to London. And don’t forget, highlights of the day are still available on the BBC iPlayer.
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November 2019
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