From an idea originally thought of by WemsFest, Comic Relief granted Emsworth the mantle of being the UK’s first ever ‘Red Nose Town’ and the community of Emsworth fully embraced the title. Over an amazing weekend of events the town raised in excess of £15,000 for the charity.
The pretty coastal town of Emsworth has always had a strong sense of community and the partnership of WemsFest and the Emsworth Business Association came up with three days of activities and events designed to appeal to and involve as many different elements of the population as possible. From Comedy Workshops in local primary schools to a Red Nose Fashion Show at The Deck Café, and so much in between there was literally something for all ages.
It seemed that everyone got involved with the fund raising, Emsworth Fire Station set off on a static cycle to John O’Groats (while the fire crew at John O’Groats retuned the favour and static cycled to Emsworth in all probability not having heard of it before!) while members of staff at the Emsworth Southern Co-operative branch ‘rowed’ to the BBC Centre in London.
Many local businesses renamed themselves over the weekend: the award-winning Fat Olives restaurant became ‘Red Olives’ and there were many others including ‘The Redhouse Café’ (Greenhouse), ‘The Blue Nose Inn’ (Blue Bell), ‘The Red Box’ (Gift Box), ‘Nose Print’ (Key Print), ‘Cheese & ChutNOSE’ (Cheese & Chutney) and ‘Sausage Relief’ (H. H Treagust & Sons butchers).
A Silent Disco in the town’s main square on Red Nose day itself took place under the gaze of one of 4 huge red noses, kindly donated by Jago developments, which appeared in Emsworth over the weekend. Attended by some 250 people, most in fancy dress, it was quite simply the craziest, most bonkers event that has ever taken place in Emsworth.
On Mothering Sunday ‘Pennies Across the Millpond’ linking the Emsworth and Slipper Sailing Clubs with coins was so successful that the organisers managed to do it twice! A ‘Red Nose Duck Race’ saw Red Noses bobbing down the River Ems with many cries of ‘follow that nose!â€
Laughter was certainly the order of the weekend from 3 successful Comedy Clubs to the ‘Young Gigglers Saturday Market’ involving the local schools, Emsworth spent 3 days enjoying itself and in the process raised in excess of £15,000 from small donations to some truly heroic fund raising, it all counted!
Emma Freud, director of Red Nose followed events closely and tweeted when the final amount was announced “Emsworth, Comic Relief salutes you and every single fabulous citizen in your townâ€
“It was a truly amazing weekend with the most wonderful community spirit, so many people got involved and not only helped raise a huge amount of money but had the most fabulous time as they did it. Out thanks to all those who sponsored and supported the weekend it wouldn’t have happened without you – it will live long in the memory of Emsworth.†Alistair Gibson, Organising Committee and Giggler.