2007 Party in the Park

With great weather all day and clear blue skies from mid-afternoon the main event opened with a breathtaking parachute display from the Royal Artillery Black Knights Parachute Display team, who landed with precision despite tricky cross winds.
The children's entertainment started with the junior 5-a-side football tournament involving teams from local Lincolnshire clubs. Prizes were awarded to all participating clubs with John Schofield, Head Coach of Lincoln City FC, kindly joining us to present the cup to the winning team, Ruston Sports A. Further local community involvement was provided by the award-winning Starlite Twirlers from Metheringham, the dog obedience and dance to music from Ichthus Canine Centre from Hougham near Grantham, and Clowns, Punch and Judy and circus skills from nearby Lincoln.
Throughout the day, the giant inflatable slide - the largest in the UK - was a hit with children and the young at heart, also operating adult-only sessions in the evening.
However for most of those who had travelled from as far afield as Northern Ireland and Kent it was the air displays and 9 hours of live music which made it a special occasion. With the RAF's Massed Bands and Shades of Blue Orchestra playing military classics and crowd-pleasing classics there was something for all ages. The RAF's Live Music Ass. acts, comprising a talented crowd of service and civilian musicians, served up a variety of styles from rock and pop to more reflective acoustic perfomances in the new acoustic tent, and later on the superb main stage.
One of the local beneficiary charities, the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, was able to put in an unscheduled guest appearance with a double fly-past by the unmistakeable yellow helicopter, based at neighbouring RAF Waddington. This was preceded by a display by a three-ship of Grob Tutor aircraft from East Midlands University Air Squadron.
The Party closed with its trademark treat for all age ranges, with TNT Soul Explosion reinforcing their reputation as crowd stormers with a finale in the evening. They were followed by the superb fireworks display set against a starry sky.
Nicky Robinson, treasurer for the event said “It looks as if we are on course to beat the total raised at each of the previous three events, which is great news for the national service and local beneficiaries. Of course this does not include the funds raised by other charity exhibitors in the trade stands."
Organiser Sqn Ldr Fraser Gray said "There is no rest for the wicked - we are already discussing what worked well and where we could improve. We'd love to hear suggestions from all of our guests so please do get in touch via the website"

The Station Commander is to confirm the date and format for the next Digby Party in the Park in the coming months.
Please visit our website at www.digbypartyinthepark.org.uk for details.

The beneficiary charities of Party in the Park 2007 were: Combat Stress, British Forces Foundation, RAF Music Charitable Trust, First Response and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.