The Inaugural Stratford Festival of Motoring was a Resounding Success
The inaugural Stratford Festival of Motoring held on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May was a resounding success. In Quentin Willson’s words it was the busiest he had seen the town for 15 years.
Town centre footfall counters on Wood Street and Bridge Street recorded a 200 per cent rise in pedestrians compared to the same bank holiday Monday 12 months ago.
More than 40,000 visitors flocked to Stratford on Monday, drawn by the fine weather and the spectacle of over 200 classic and specialist cars on display throughout the town. Sunday’s footfall was also up by 10,000 on the previous year.
The two days started with a car run around the countryside, the Sunday run heading south and taking in most of the steep hills in the Cotswolds. The Monday run headed north of Stratford around the market towns of Alcester and Henley in Arden.
On their return the cars were parked up all around the town in the pedestrianised areas of Henley Street and Meer Street, in front of the RSC, on Rother Market and filling the Town Square. These together with a number of other displays from motor dealers showcasing Aston Martins, new Jaguars and Range Rovers and drag racers from the Shakespeare Country Raceway provided something for everyone.
For the smaller car enthusiasts there was a fire engine on the Rother Market and pedal cars in Town Square.
Everyone involved in the festival has said the event was a great success and should become an annual event including:
- The Mayor of Stratford Keith Lloyd
- Local motoring journalist Quentin Willson
- The organisers – StratForward and Shakespeare Country
- The local businesses
- The participants
- Visitors to Stratford
The Festival was covered on both local radio and TV and has since been reported in both local and specialist motoring press.
- Stratford Observer
- Classic & SportsCar
- YouTube – a carousel of photos from RobTheCarSpotter
The Festival supported two charities:
- The Sporting Bears Motor Club raised £1,000 for local charity Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy by offering Dream Rides in a range of car.
- Local fundraiser Terry Manders and his ever faithful dog Sam raised £659.20 for the RNLI - the highest amount they have ever raised at a single event.
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