TALK about lucky. In a week filled with rain, the clouds cleared and the sun shone for the second Making Markets Matter in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
By any standard the twice-weekly Loughborough market is a busy gaff, in a town where shoppers are obviously well aware of the delights of market shopping.
But when Making Markets Matter arrived on a Thursday the crowds thronged around the event.
Butcher Winnie Cooling said: “Making Markets Matter has definitely made such a difference. My customers have been talking about it all the time, particularly the excellent cookery demonstrations.”
The site was something of a challenge for the MMM promotional team, since the popular prize voucher vault (compered by Past President Eric Tweed) and Geoff Tookey’s cookery demonstrations were quite a way from the market, on the opposite side of the busy A6.
But not to worry – people are well used to walking from the shops and shopping centre across the road to the market, using what must be one of the busiest pedestrian crossings outside London.
Youngsters who won prizes on the vaults went with their parents to the collection point at the heart of the market, where the team was also kept busy with free face painting.
Shoppers fascinated by Geoff’s culinary skills were equally keen to get across the road to buy the ingredients, almost all of which were bought on the market.
President-Elect Julien Lewis was on hand to meet the Mayor and Mayoress of Loughborough, Coun Stephen Campbell, and the Mayoress Coun Mrs Brenda Seaton.
Branch Chairman Ivor Lovesey presented the Mayor with a £125 cheque for his charity appeal for Age Concern.