Cheddar Aiming For Jubilee Bunting World Record
30th May 2012
The village of Cheddar is aiming to set a new world record for the longest continuous bunting as part of its Jubilee celebrations.
Organisers are hoping to create one single string of bunting which will stretch up to 4.5 kilometres through the village and up the famous gorge.
The entire community is getting involved with the record attempt, which is being led by the Cheddar Traders Association.
The bunting is being prepared and stitched in 50 metre sections and is predominantly being completed by Lynne Hebborne who runs the 'Time out' craft shop in the village.
Pupils from Cheddar First School and Axbridge First School are individually decorating more than 1,000 white pendants and the project is being jointly supported by the parish council, local traders and Cheddar Garden Centre. Also helping out are Cheddar Gorge & Caves, who are themselves providing an extra 1.5km of bunting to help set the new record.
Paul Lacey, Chairman of the Cheddar Traders Association, said: “This has truly been an extraordinary challenge that we’ve set ourselves and it simply would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of the entire community.
“Everyone from local schools and businesses to volunteers and staff from Cheddar Gorge & Caves have generously provided their time, money and assistance.
“We’re delighted and extremely proud of what the village is achieving and we hope it will be a fitting way to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee,” he added.
The record attempt will start at Lanes Home Hardware store where the bunting will apparently emerge out of a 1950s TV screen before wending its way through the village.
The plan is for the bunting to finish close to the entrance to the Cheddar Caves and climbing instructors from the attraction are aiming to traverse the gorge with union jacks as a fitting finale to the mammoth undertaking.
Work started on the project back in February and, in order for the record to be recognised, organisers will have to take hundreds of photos to prove the bunting is continuous.
They will also have to provide a sworn statement, witnessed by a solicitor and employ the services of a quantity surveyor to accurately measure the total length of the bunting.
