Pill Rag pleas for help

THE organisers of one of Pill’s most popular days out are making a passionate appeal to business owners to ensure its most popular event can go ahead in traditional form.

 

The procession is one of the highlights of Pill Rag, which dates back to the 1920s, with community groups, organisations, schools and families taking part with parade floats.

 

But rising insurance premiums, higher manpower costs, and the Health and Safety Act means that with less than three weeks to go the committee, who have been working tirelessly since the beginning of the year, have been unable to find lorries for the parade floats.

 

Last year facing the same problem the committee encouraged people to join the parade through the village on foot, but is hoping in its 90th year, local businesses will come to the rescue and ensure the traditional procession can continue.

 

This is also the 21st year that Pill Rag committee chairman Pauline McDade has been helping to organise the event.

 

She said: “I am a very philosophical person and know because of the great community spirit the people in Pill have, the event will be a good one no matter what, but the procession is hugely popular, people line the streets to watch it and look forward to it every year.

 

“It would be wonderful to carry on that tradition with the floats and we are appealing to anyone who might be able lend us the lorries or maybe sponsor a lorry to contribute to the cost if we have to hire them.”

 

Usually around a dozen floats take part in the Rag, but this year the committee is looking for around five lorries.

 

The event takes place on Saturday, June 5 on the village green where there will be a pet show, children’s fancy dress and the hotly awaited final of an X-Factor-style competition called Junior Rag Factor. There will also be stalls, refreshments and the procession, which starts from the village green and snakes through the village towards the Kings Arms at Easton-in-Gordano before finishing back at the green.

 

Pill’s Rag Queen Emma Lacey, 20, of Rudleigh Road and King Ben Wilson, 19, of Waterloo House, who were chosen last month, will also start their 12 months reign when they are crowned with due pomp and ceremony on the village green.

 

On Sunday, May 23, a duck race, organised by both the Pill Rag and Regatta committee’s, will take place on the River Avon. More than 300 ducks are expected to take part in the annual fundraising event which takes place from 2.30-3.30pm.

 

Anyone who is able to help with lorries or sponsorship can call Pauline McDade on 07971 535056.