Ribchester Club's VE day celebration with a difference

A Lancashire social club devised a novel way to both mark the anniversary of VE day and honour the role of key workers in the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Journalist Jo J2O (left)  interviews the  key worker celebrities (police officer, nurse, postal worker, paramedic, shopkeeper and doctor at Ribchester Club.Journalist Jo J2O (left)  interviews the  key worker celebrities (police officer, nurse, postal worker, paramedic, shopkeeper and doctor at Ribchester Club.
Journalist Jo J2O (left) interviews the key worker celebrities (police officer, nurse, postal worker, paramedic, shopkeeper and doctor at Ribchester Club.

Ribchester Sports and Social Club may be closed to visitors due to the Coronavirus lock-down, but it didn't stop committee member Paul Dunne staging a party to mark the culmination of the club's contribution to the recent Ribchester Scarecrow Competition.

The contest had a key workers theme for 2020. Paul had ensured the club's scarecrow was dressed in a different outfit each day, representing different key workers from a doctor to a postman. The contest ended last weekend but he decided to carry on changing his outdoor scarecrow scenes until VE day.

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Finishing with a flourish he "invited" winning scarecrows and other notable scarecrows from the village contest to get together prior to VE day at the club and at noon on VE day released a new video featuring the scarecrows and a special stay safe themed song sung by well known local singer Geno Eccles. Paul invited Geno, who auditioned for ITV talent show "The Voice UK" , to be part of the celebration. He sang lyrics written by Paul and Geno to the tune of Feel by Robbie Williams.

Club committee member Paul Dunne dressing one of the club scarecrowsClub committee member Paul Dunne dressing one of the club scarecrows
Club committee member Paul Dunne dressing one of the club scarecrows

Paul said a special thank you was due to Geno and also to Izzy Parkinson who edited the video and clips.

The Club is also fundraising as part of its celebration with visitors to its Facebook page being invited to contribute to the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.

See: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ribchester-club1

Paul said there had been a splendid response to the club's scarecrow display, adding : "The committee has done this to maintain interest and awareness of the club and cheer people up over this period. Just because people have to stay at home it doesn't mean that establishments like ours can't keep being part of the community and their supporters."

The club's combined VE day commemoration  and scarecrow festival finaleThe club's combined VE day commemoration  and scarecrow festival finale
The club's combined VE day commemoration and scarecrow festival finale
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* Retinoblastoma is a type of eye cancer that affects young children, mainly under the age of six. It develops in the cells of the retina, the light sensitive lining of the eye. Around 50-60 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year – approximately one child a week. Retinoblastoma can either affect one or both eyes.

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