Well attended Emergency Services themed event for the summer holidays!
The free event brought 100’s of children, including littles ones from Bell Day Nursery to meet Saffron Walden’s emergency services partners: Essex County Fire & Rescue Service. Uttlesford Neighbourhood Policing and Saffron Walden Community First Responders. The fun included climbing aboard a fire engine, dressing up in police uniform, brushing up on first aid skills and practicing CPR, understanding the importance of water safety and seeing the brand new ‘John Deere Gator Off Road Utility Vehicle’. Braintree and Uttlesford Neighbourhood Policing Team’s Inspector Phil Jackson said, “This vehicle will allow for great flexibility to reach rural and challenging terrain compared to a conventional police 4X4. It will also enable greater visibility for policing across the rural districts of Essex, and more opportunity to detect offenders targeting our rural communities.”
Families also enjoyed storytelling with Essex Mobile Library, free face painting and the opportunity to learn about the fire service of past years; including the Rose & Crown Hotel fire on Boxing Day,1969 – with Saffron Walden Museum. Children also made their own cardboard fireman’s helmet. The museums’ Learning and Outreach Officer, Anna Spencer, said, “we were delighted to support this event – we had dozens of children and families who enjoyed making Cardboard Fireman’s helmets based on an 1870’s brass helmet from the museum’s main collection. Children enjoyed getting creative with colour and there were some fabulous designs! As well as historic photographs, the museum had a number of interesting artifacts on display, including a leather helmet from Berden, where the fire fighting vicar had set up a voluntary brigade. There was also an example of an early fire extinguisher, which puzzled many visitors to the stall. The event was very well attended, and we were pleased to be able to interact with so many members of the local community and visitors to the town, whilst also showing some of the things the museum has to offer.”
A spokesperson for SWTC said: “It was wonderful to see the Market Square filled with families enjoying our Emergency Services themed event. We would like to thank our event partners who helped make the event such a success; Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, Uttlesford Neighbourhood Policing, Saffron Walden Community First Responders, UDC Communities team, Essex Libraries – West, Saffron Walden Museum, Saffron Walden Community Pastors,1 Life Lord Butler Leisure Centre and face painting by Rainbow Robin. We hope everyone who joined us had an exciting time!”
The event was organised as part of SWTC’s programme of family-friendly activities and events in the town. The additional footfall throughout the day also increases sales for many local businesses. Richard Corby, Tourist Information Centre Manager said, “this is a great time for town centre businesses to embrace opportunities such as this – and use it as a springboard to promote what is unique about their business”.
If you have any feedback please email events@saffronwalden.gov.uk – and for more information about upcoming events, please visit Saffron Walden Town Council’s website at www.saffronwalden.gov.uk and social media channels.
