The Edale Road well was designed by Victoria Greenan and links with the village theme of The High Seas, showing a lighthouse and stormy seas and entitled "For Those in Peril".

Hope Primary School's well, designed by Natasha Milner and worked by the children at the school, depicts a desert island surrounded by a colourful sea and with a bright sun. Hope Valley College's well was designed by Imogen Carter of Year 7 and illustrates the "Seeds of Hope" theme celebrating the college's 50th anniversary this year. The well was petalled by students and staff during the week leading up to Wakes.

The four wells were blessed by local clergy during a short ceremony on Sunday evening, when villagers and visitors joined the church choir and Castleton Silver Band as they visited each well for a hymn and a prayer.

This year's well dressing in Loxley Hall was very well supported and the organisers have thanked the many people who called in to help prepare the Edale Road and Market Place wells during the three days of work.

A map showing the location of the four wells is on display outside Hope Post Office.

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CHURCH: This year's Wakes exhibition in St Peter's Church takes the theme of "Horses and Transport" and features displays by local organisations including Hope Historical Society, Hope Primary School and the Hope Valley Young Farmers.

A particular attraction is a life-sized model horse standing inside the church door to welcome visitors, which has been loaned by Peakdale Saddlery of Doveholes.

The exhibition is open daily until 5pm on Sunday.


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WAKES: Wakes Saturday was a huge success, with more floats and fancy dress entries than for a number of years.

The sun shone all afternoon as people gathered for the procession around the village, followed by the crowning of Hope's new royalty, Junior Queen Alice and Princess Jasmine by special guests Keith and Kate Brown and Dorothy and Jim Sheen.

Last year's royalty, Queen Yelda, Junior Queen Shannon, Princess Jasmine and Rosebud Sofia all stood down after a year of representing Hope at events both at home and in neighbouring villages.

Among the floats were a Viking ship, a bevy of mermaids, nautical-themed floats by Hope Primary school and St Peter's Church and a dramatic display by Hope's new amateur dramatic group, HADIT, featuring some exotic costumes and disguises.

Thanks went to all those who helped organise the day, and particularly to Castleton Silver Band for their accompaniment and to Peter Eyre of Brough whose horse-drawn dray carried the royals around the village in style.

Also thanked was Neil Ibbotson of Parsons Lane whose two vintage Morris Oxford cars transported Wakes guests in the procession.