ORGANISERS of Whaley Bridge's unique Water Weekend (W3) could hardly believe it.

After years of wet Saturdays or stormy
Sundays, there were good forecasts
for the tenth festival: occasional showers,
possible thunderstorms. None of them
arrived for the 2009 event.
Sunshine was almost constant for the
entire weekend.

Said chairman Barrie Walker: "It was
better than we dared hope for. We've had
the best event and the biggest crowds
since the Weekend began for the
Millennium. Thank you to everyone who
supported us and had a good time."

Boat trips were the centre of the event, with many volunteers helping to man the three boats which plied the canal. Families eager to experience the pleasure of this wonderful local asset waited for hours to get on the crowded boats. All trips were free, as they were last year.
 
Nearly 800 people took canal trips, about the same figure as last year when there was an extra boat. Organisers said that if there had been a few more hours - and an extra boat - the number taking a trip would have easily topped 1,000! As it was, an estimated 1,400 people visited the event - many of them shopping locally at some time over the weekend.

Music showed the creative force of New Mills. The United Co-op New Mills Band demonstrated its versatility, as did Groovediggers, a trio from the town, specialising in rhythm and blues. Another young group from New Mills, The Aerials with lead singer Owain Davies - an ex-member of Kinder Children's Choir - kept teenagers entertained.

The above article was our press release after the 2009 event