Last updated 11:59, Saturday, 17 May 2008

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The opening of Cockermouth's Georgian Fair

THE sun shone on hundreds of people at Cockermouth Georgian Fair.

Visitors to the fair were treated to a riot of sound and colour as brass bands and street entertainers competed for their attention.

Highlights included morris dancing from Belfagan, singing and dancing from Regency Rejigged and several musket displays from the Forty Seventh Foot.

Children tried their hand at plate-spinning, juggling and balancing skills in a series of circus skills workshops.

Adding a touch of Georgian humour to the day’s events were regency fops Swash and Buckle.

Swash, who pushed his companion around in a wheeled sedan chair, claimed he had come to see all the poor people and brighten up their dull little lives.

Swash was particularly disparaging about the morris dancers and loudly cheered “hooray” when their act came to an end.

Not everyone agreed with his scathing reviews.

Lisa Allen, 33, of Parklands in Cockermouth, said: “I particularly liked the morris dancers. They were very exciting to watch.”

The day finished with an exciting 100 yard sedan chair race in the Memorial Gardens next to the River Derwent.

Winning team King’s Merry Men celebrated their victory by dousing each other in champagne.

Liam and Kieran McAvoy, Jay Martyn and Sam Rossi beat off competition from Dad’s Army, King’s Church Alpha Course, M Sport, National Child Birth Trust and Reef Cafe to claim the trophy.

• Full report and pictures in Friday's Times & Star