At last British summer has gone against type. The sun has come out, a Brit wins Wimbledon and England wins the Ashes. We just need snow on Christmas Day and Jeremy Clarkson to take up riding push bikes and I will start to believe in miracles.
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| Before the fireworks......Sue, Martin, Kellie and Myles |
So the setting for
'Under the Arches' music and lighitng event at the rather unique
Poncysyllte Aqueduct on Friday could not have been better.
Although the action started at 7pm there was various musical entertainment from early evening. We arrived at 8pm to settle ourselves down with wine and beer and a bottle of something refreshing for our designated driver, my sister Sue. Children had set up impromptu games of footie and adults were already well settled after various portable repasts and enjoying the music. A happy atmosphere abounded in anticipation of a great night.....
The aqueduct was was declared a World Heritage Site in 2009. 'So what?'I hear you ask. Well, other World Heritage Sites include the Taj Mahal, The Great Wall of China and the Pyramids, so it is in illustrious company. Having grown up with this Telford-built structure (which has 19 arches rising majestically over the valley at a height of 126ft) it's sudden fame was somewhat of a surprise to locals. A bit like discovering your naughty little sister is secretary of the United Nations........ But we are all kind of proud of it.
As the last of the daylight left, lasers and coloured lights started playing across the stately arches. An excited Myles (10) and his equally excited Nan (over 10) speculated on another light which was hovering red and green light in the sky above the crowd. This turned out to be a remote controlled camera taking arial shots, but was none the less exciting for that....
Then suddenly 2 huge fans of flame burst out as the music from
Limited Series and later
The Big Beat played along. The light and fire show gained momentum and culminated in some lively fireworks over the stage to end the show at 11pm.
As we trailed back up the hill amongst the excited, chattering crowd homewards, I wondered what that maverick Mr Telford would have made of it. Would he have baulked at this intrusion into the usual stately serenity of this valley of the Dee? I don't think so.......I think he would have been rocking along with the rest of us....
