On Saturday, I joined Walton and Cobham Heritage Days.
First, I went to Walton where Joanna Gordon from the Walton on Thames Trading Alliance (WoTTA) showed me round the various stalls and activities, from the screening of black and white films at Cecil Hepworth Playhouse to the dog show down by the river. I then put on a hard hat and a harness and abseiled down St Mary’s Church to help raise money for it (pictured below).
Next, onto Cobham Heritage Day where I had a great time in the river picking out the winner of the famous duck race with Chairman of Cobham Conservation and Heritage trust, Sir Gerry Acher (pictured with me below). Cobham residents sponsored over 8,000 ducks to race down the river from Cobham Mill to the finish line at Riverhill, with a range of prizes for the winners.
These Heritage Days are great community occasions, an opportunity to showcase our civic spirit and take pride in the amazing local businesses, charities and civic groups that give our towns and villages such a strong sense of identity and pride.