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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 12 September 2008

Orleta dancers with Mayor of Islington, Councillor Stefan Kasprzyk

Hundreds go with the flow at canal festival

THE rain may have held off for most of the day but that didn’t stop visitors to Angel Canal Festival having fun in the water.
Hundreds turned out to enjoy the festivities along the City Road Basin towpath for the event of, organised by Islington Boat Club and Angel Community Canal Boat Trust.
Mayor of Islington Stefan Kasprzyk gave the official welcome before testing out the food and joining in the Orleta troop’s Polish folk dancing.
While the more adventurous had a go at canoe classes, took lessons in the floating classroom and bought food from the sandwich barge, others preferred to stay on dry land.
All day long there were queues for the biggest attraction, the chance to handle an owl, while the more sedate visitors tried their hand at pottery classes.
Morris dancers shook their bells and hankies while pearly kings and queens, a giant gliding angel and an astronaut made the rounds.
Festival co-ordinator Beryl Windsor, who is stepping down after 10 years in the role, said: “It was like a village fete, only with boats. We had about 50 stalls, five kinds of music, Punch and Judy and storytelling for children. It was just lovely, everything worked out.
“There was a queue all day for the hawks and owls. You’re given a special glove and you can hold them.
“People loved the Angel. He’s 7 or 8ft tall with a big skirt and he just zooms around.”
Ms Windsor added: “I’m retiring because I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years and it’s in the summer so I never get the chance to use my boat. I’ll be 70 next year. The festival’s all run by volunteers but you can’t go on forever.”
She said the festival organisers are always looking for more volunteers and are on the hunt for her successor.

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