Music thrills the crowd

11:24am Friday 31st August 2001

THOUSANDS of people flocked to the tenth annual 1812 Night at Swanley Park.

Families arrived early to ensure they had good positions on the grass to make the most of Swanley's version of the Last Night of the Proms.

They brought picnics or ate food from the barbecue while exploring the stalls.

Children made good use of the bouncy castle and the play area until Gary's Mad Magic Show demanded their full attention, delighting them with magic tricks and jokes.

The balmy evening was whiled away with a resounding performance from The Eynsford Concert Band.

Some even cooled down and relaxed to the music on the park's boating lake.

The performance was rounded off with Land and Hope and Glory and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture to a breath-taking firework display.

Town mayor Councillor Frank Parker, who opened the night's festivities on August 24, said: “It was a fantastic night out for everybody. There was a tremendous atmosphere in the park and it was a spectacular event.

“Judging by the reaction I got at the end of the night, everyone enjoyed it.”

Town clerk Brian Daley agreed, saying: “I am delighted more than 5,000 people enjoyed themselves due to the hard work of the team.”

The 1812 annual event has developed over its 10-year existence, from a stage comprising two lorries in Recreation Park, on St Mary's Road, to a stage on the Swanley Park lake to make the most of available space.

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