EVENT'S WE HAVE HELPED WITH

Photo Credit - Jen Readings 

 New Years Celebrations started early in Westward Ho! this year! Hundreds of people flocked to the beach on Sunday 29th December for the premature New Years Day Dip!    

Peter Sawyer, owner of Kite-Mare Surf and Kite Shop in Westward Ho!, has always been the organiser of the annual New Year’s Day Dip in Westward Ho! Pete made the decision to move the event forward due to the awful weather forecast for the 1st January. Pete said, ‘When Mother Nature throws you a massive bag of lemons - you  have a lemonade party on the beach and a premature New Years Day Dip 2024/2025!’   

Great support for the event comes from Jack Johns, Rob Braddick, local businesses,  South West Event Management Solutions CIC  and Medicare South West.  

The New Year’s Day Dip began in 2018, and was one of many events that Peter organised in the village; after Covid struck the local events were hugely impacted, however, the New Years Day Dip is now back to stay and is more popular than ever. Growing year on year the event saw hundreds of participants make the dash into the freezing water - whilst hundreds more spectated and cheered them on.  

Westward Ho! has been buzzing with a string of awesome events over the Festive Period - including the return of the Sandy Santa Fun Run, the Ho Ho Ho Night and the Dip! 

South West Event Management Solutions are extremely proud to play a small part in the background of this event, helping Peter with the licensing paperwork required to use the Beach (which belongs to Torridge District Council).

What are people saying about the event?   

Martin Hollingsworth said:  ‘Great event and atmosphere - thanks to all involved in making it happen! Coming from Sydney, Australia it was such a contrast at this time of year - I will remember this for a very long time and no longer bleat about 15 degrees during our winter swims...’  

James Fletcher - North Devon Estate Agent, said: ‘Hats off to the organisers for rearranging the dip, it's always a calendar highlight and it was great to watch. Well done to the brave souls taking part too!’  

Laura Truepenny said: ‘It was incredible as always!!! Thank you all for organising’  Frazer Martin said: ‘Well done for putting the event on it is always good fun’  Rob Braddick said: ‘“What a fantastic turn out considering the date changed a few days before,that’s when social media works great!’’, Rob was, ‘’udderly amazed’’ with the event and turnout!  

  Lucy Lowe from South West Event Management said: “This is a much anticipated annual event and it’s fantastic that Peter et al have successfully pulled the event forward and everyone got to join in! Absolutely amazing event - we’ve loved every minute! Weather wise New Years Day would be too dangerous - but the weather today was perfect!’ 

 Two weeks before New Year’s Eve it was apparent there was nothing on for the local children on New Years Eve in Bideford. SWEMS CIC's Lucy  decided to put a shout out on social media and see if our local community would come together to put on an event for local families. Which they did!! 

A huge thank you to everyone who was involved - all of the helpers and everyone who provided services, snacks, crafts  and time for the event. The Hall was given to us for the event by Bideford Town Council, Wayne Isaac at Bouncy and Beyond came along with a Bouncy Castle, Mickey Parker of Club Karaoke lent us his Disco equipment, Ben from the Palladium was our DJ, local duo  Dogleg performed, Jack and Bodie Johns put on an impressive stunt show, Magical Guests provided a special character visit. 

Volunteers Jolene, Karen, Kaye, Martyn, Linda, Summer, Tracy, Josh and Candy manned the craft tables and activities. Minxy’s Sweets donated sweet cones for the children, Red Elephant Security provided staff, Alex at Pizza Time Bideford, Kimmy, Linda and Tracy donated snacks. Karen (Mother Clucking Farm), Abi (Sage Apothecary), Pete and Ros (Synchronicity 22), Jolene, Lisa (Fever) provided craft materials and prizes. South West Event Management Solutions CIC provided insurance. 

Graham Hobbs came and captured the day perfectly. A massive thank you to everyone that attended - we had a fantastic time!

The event ran from 3-4:30pm and was very busy throughout.
Kids enjoyed the stunt show, dancing, bouncing, making cards, colouring competition, biscuit decorating, slime making, fancy dress completion and meeting the Blue pup!   

Linda Hellyer said,  ‘Well done on organising the children’s party. That was the best yet and there was so much for the children to do.’  

Karen Austin said, ‘Look like it was a great! Well done for organising such a lovely event for the community, just what Bideford needs!’  

Penny Hall said, ‘A lovely way of using the market, well done to all the people who organised it.’  

The event was completely free and is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when we all come together. Please keep an eye on the Bideford Pannier Market and Events page and South West Event Management Solutions CIC to find out about more events - check out the website here: https://southwesteventmanagementsolutionscic.co.uk  

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