Earlier this evening (Monday 13 November) members of the MantonFest organising committee headed by Chairman Roger Grant (resplendent in a bright yellow Pudsey Onesie) turned up at the North Swindon Orbital Centre to do their bit for Pudsey and Children in Need.
What did they have to do? – Pedal, and pedal hard round and round the large car park on an eight pedal bike which also had a driver and Ben Prater, presenter of BBC Wiltshire’s Breakfast Show as road captain.
Roger is a regular guest on Ben’s breakfast show, reviewing stories in the news whilst also giving a good plug for what’s happening round here, and of course MantonFest. So to return the compliment and do his bit for Children in Need Roger agreed to ‘persuade’ his MantonFest colleagues to do their bit as well and work up a sweat clocking up a few miles on the special eight seater bike, to help get just that bit closer to the 100 mile target for the week.
How come an eight seater bike? ”We had a bit of a brainstorming session, knowing that we wanted to do something really big for Children in Need this year, getting out and about everywhere to raise money for Pudsey” explained Breakfast Show Editor, Mary Sanders. ”The One Show have their rickshaw, so we thought we could take it to another level”.
“We’re doing it all week, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday solid, then Ben’s breakfast programme will be an all cycling Outside Broadcast on Friday morning.” she added.
“It’s been a brilliant response, just driving around and 99% of drivers have been fantastic. We’ve caused a bit of chaos on the roads but they’ve been absolutely superb because it’s for a great cause and some of the money raised will go towards projects here in Wiltshire as well.”
“How do you feel?” was the question posed to Roger Grant as he slid down from the seat of the bike after doing an impressive number of laps: ”Probably the same as Katrina of the Waves will after she’s finished her set at next year’s MantonFest” he quipped “Knackered!”
Plenty of North Swindon’s evening shoppers came past to throw a donation into the large bucket. ”Even Rory Bremner popped by” said Mary. “He came along to buy a pint of milk, saw us and came over, said hello and jumped on the bike and did a few laps” she added. Probably doing Pudsey impressions on the way!
Friday night is Children in Need night, but if you would like to donate just visit this page and make Roger and his team’s efforts all the more worthwhile.
MantonFest will be taking place on 30 June next year in the normal place, the field adjacent to Preshute Church. Headlining will be ‘Katrina of the Waves’, supported by John Coghlan’s Quo, The Swinging Blue Jeans and ‘Whole Lotta Led’, Led Zeppelin’s top tribute band.