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Gala goers brave the cold
The weather may have been verging on wintry but the carnival spirit was neither frozen nor dampened during the annual May Day celebrations in Ashover.
Hail storms, driving rain and early-morning cold failed to put a stop to the village's May Day carnival, with the street theatre, sports events and procession all going ahead as planned.
Church Street was lined with stalls raising money for charities and good causes as their representatives braved the elements to set up their stalls, while the traditional Maypole dance and Morris dancers also drew the crowds.
Rosemary Early, who headed the organising committee, said: "We still can't believe how atrocious the weather was at times or that some events had to be curtailed for safety reasons, but everyone who stayed thoroughly enjoyed the day."
The Bishop of Derby, the Right Rev Dr Alastair Redfern, and his wife Caroline, had the honour of crowning the May King and Queen during a ceremony and they also took part in the carnival procession along with other local and church dignitaries.
The Bishop and his wife also judged the best-decorated stall, giving the accolade to the church 'Acorns' group.
However the soggiest local at the end of the day was Blackpatch the pirate — better known to most as local builder Robert Dronfield — who was thrown into the village stocks and pelted with soaking wet sponges for ill-treating Robinson Crusoe and his friends during the annual pantomime.
Robert donated the cash raised by being in the stocks to the All Saints 'Save our Spire' appeal.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
