As forecasts became increasingly poor we were a little concerned.......

As the rain started to fall we started to worry.......

As torrential rain flooded half the County.......we panicked!

But, as I said to the Press and the Radio.....

'It takes more than a few showers to stop the Walkington Hayriders!!'

Friday morning dawned and 8.30am saw a merry band, in the woods at Risby, absolutely drenched, but nevertheless valiantly cutting ferns to decorate the barn.......nothing was going to stop the Barn Dance going ahead. And up at the stack yard the message was loud and clear, the yard was full of cars and the barn full of waterproof clad villagers all armed and ready to decorate!!

John Waterworth ingeniously built a gravel path to the barn and that evening Hayriders arrived in their droves, hitching up skirts to reveal welly boot style dancing shoes. Amazingly at pretty much 8.00pm the rain stopped, but it didn't matter because regardless of that the dance was as fabulous as ever. We even had people arriving on the night, without tickets, because they had heard how good it was!

Well done to Maureen, her team and all who attended for effectively saying.....
'To hell with the weather, we're going to have a great time regardless’ .......and we did!

Saturday morning dawned with a watery sunshine pushing through the clouds and, with the forecast fairly reasonable, our heartfelt thanks go to Mr & Mrs Ball for allowing the Garden Party to go ahead in their truly magnificent gardens. It just wouldn't be the same at another venue and their support is very much appreciated.

To be honest, the day actually became quite hot and the opening by the lovely Valerie Woods went very well. A super attendance meant that our stalls soon became very busy with the Beverley Brass Band providing brilliant music and the village school children entertaining with their expert dancing.

Our luck with the weather lasted until 3.30pm when the clouds opened again!

Nevertheless, everyone gamely carried on with the prize draw and, though somewhat soggy, the afternoon ended extremely well. It is a great credit to Andy and his team that they held their nerve, kept going and pulled off a magnificent garden party.

I woke up on Hayride Sunday with the sun shining through my window and I smiled. Jan and I had spoken on Friday evening about what would happen if the weather went against us, but as I said to her then, I never for one minute doubted that God would allow us have our last Victorian Hayride in the sun, and I was right!

In my opinion it could not have been better, true the rain clouds threatened, but the cloud cover meant the neither horses nor Hayriders got overly hot.  Walking around the stack yard, before the procession, at Northlands farm was lovely, seeing all the people who had turned out for our last Hayride procession, but absolutely nothing prepared any of us for the huge crowds that lined the village.

I walked down ahead of the procession and caught my breath as I saw the amazing number of villagers and friends who had come out to support us. It was with tightness in my throat that I watched as the Morton's Wagon, rounded the Dog and Duck corner, and heard the roar of cheers that accompanied them.

From then on the picture was repeated around the route, with people clearly coming from far and wide to see our last Hayride. And why wouldn't they for where else in the country can anyone see a parade like this! Bishop Burton, Westwood and Beverley equally saw incredible crowds and everyone gave so generously. We collected a staggering £6000 on Sunday, which is double what we collected last year.

For me one of the most emotional parts of the week was the ride back into Walkington. Thank you to all of you who were there to welcome us back for the very last time, your cheers negated our weary limbs and sore feet though the shouts of, 'it's the last one', as the wagons turned to make the last trot up to the farm, left me feeling proud but heavy hearted.

In the stack yard weary horses and horsemen loaded wagons and all too soon it was time to say our final farewell to the Hayride. As we gathered round our thoughts turned immediately to the hundreds of horsemen and Hayriders who have gone before.

It was very emotional for every one when we presented some gifts, not only on behalf of the current committee but also on behalf of committees gone by. Likewise we felt that the recipients were accepting thanks on behalf of those who had gone before.

Forty years ago saw the Waterworth Family open their doors to the Victorian Hayride and Northlands Farm has been home to the Hayride ever since. We were delighted to thank the Waterworth Ladies with floral gifts and also pleased to honour, and remember, the late Edith Waterworth. Likewise we cannot thank John Waterworth enough for everything he has done for the Hayride and hope the photograph we have given him will be a fitting memento.

We then went on to honour the Morton Ladies who have been there all these years supporting the Morton Horsemen. I spoke to Mrs Morton (Junior) who confirmed that the day after their son was born some 17 year ago, Mark Morton actually jumped off his wagon, on the Hayride, and ran across Westwood in his smock to see his newborn son, because he knew that would be the only chance he would get It was their son's birthday on this year’s Hayride Sunday.

The St Johns Ambulance and Police service were also thanked for the magnificent support that they have given over all these years. I spent some time in the Police lead support vehicle and they were just amazing in the way that they organised everything.... it could not have been better. (I got chucked out at the cattle grid at top of Westwood – not naughty enough!)

There have been many Chairmen of the Hayride Organising committee over the years and all have done an excellent job. However, this final year has been tough and our thanks go to Jan for her astonishing commitment to the Hayride, for all her hard work (and I can assure you that no one will ever know how hard she has worked) and for always being a caring friend to us all. We know that Jan accepted our formal thanks on behalf of all the Chairmen who have gone before for their dedication to the Hayride.

Forty years ago Ernie called on his great friend Geoff Morton to run his idea past him about a Hayride and Geoff, of course, said that they could make it happen. Forty years on and Geoff and Mark are still here heading the Hayride with their Heavy Horses pulling the Yorkshire Wolds Wagons. We thanked Geoff and all the Horsemen who have gone before with the presentation of a framed photograph of the Hayride to Geoff.

Doris Teal has been there for all of the 40 Years of Hayride. Whilst filming with Yorkshire Television last week in Emie's absence, Doris commented, 'It's taken me 40 years to get into the limelight!' Well I can assure you Doris that in our eyes you have been well and truly in the limelight for all these years.

How can anyone thank Mr Hayride himself, Ernie Teal, for first of all having the inspiration for the Hayride but, most of all, for making it happen. It was with a great deal of gratitude and emotion that we presented him with a bronze of a wagon wheel made by Jill Atley, local artist, and we all feel that this is but a small tribute indeed for the astonishing work he has done on behalf of charities, in promoting the image of the East Riding on Yorkshire, but most importantly of all in encouraging the unbelievable community that is WALKINGTON.

It is very rare in a community to have an event such as this that has endured time and brought so much pleasure to young and old alike for so many years. When it was started with a small idea from Ernie, it was to be Walkington's contribution in the fight against cancer, but equally importantly it was to be a community event so that the adults in the Village could have some fun!

Whilst speaking to Jan she commented that, when she moved to the village some 20 odd years ago, the Hayride was a means of becoming a part of the outstanding community that we have in Walkington, and she is so right. Over the years the Hayride may well have raised an amazing amount for charity but it has also fulfilled its objective of being a community event embracing new villagers and old alike.

2007 indeed heralded the end of the Walkington Victorian Hayride as we knew it. We went out with a BANG and not a whisper but we feel confident that the spirit of Hayride will remain and we will continue to organise a new flush of village events that will embrace the powerful ethics of 40 GLORIOUS YEARS OF THE WALKINGTON VICTORIAN HAYRIDE.

Many thanks, Nicky Henderson - Hayride Publicity (873301)