The 2015 Bungay Summer Festival came to a damp conclusion at the weekend as rain disrupted the final events.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Town reeve Terry Reeve, right, with Bungay mayor Olly Barnes, front, and town crier Martin Payne with the Rumburgh Morris side who entertained on the final afternoon of the festival.Town reeve Terry Reeve, right, with Bungay mayor Olly Barnes, front, and town crier Martin Payne with the Rumburgh Morris side who entertained on the final afternoon of the festival. (Image: Archant)

The teddy bears’ picnic, sponsored by Fosters Solicitors, had to be cancelled, though the sun got out later to allow a few teddies and other pet toys to enjoy a ride on the zip wire from the top of St Mary’s Church tower.

The rain also reduced the final afternoon’s event on Sunday with entertainment planned at the Castle Meadow. The children’s fancy dress competition was a non-starter and other activities had to be moved into the marquee.

Nevertheless the Rumburgh Morris side entertained the small band of spectators who did turn out in the adverse weather, along with young rock group Amending who performed some of the numbers written by the four members and sung by vocalist Kate Macguire Buck. Tower tours at St Mary’s also went ahead on Sunday.

The wet weather eased enough to allow the flag lowering ceremony to go ahead, marking the end of the two weeks of activities. Town reeve Terry Reeve said the wet weekend should not detract from what had otherwise been another successful festival.

He said highlights had included a wonderful concert by the Mozart Orchestra, with soloist Rachel Cannon, the impressive concert by high school students to mark the 450th anniversary of the founding of Bungay Grammar School, and the inaugural duck race at the Falcon Meadow, which he hoped would become an annual event.

“Thanks are due to festival chairman Jason Collins and his team, and all the organisations which staged events during the two-week programme, for helping to make it another true community affair with something for all ages and interests,” he said.

Town mayor Olly Barnes echoed his views, and said it was another example of what Bungay had to offer.

The two ceremonially lowered the Bigod flag from the castle tower where they had raised it 15 days previously, before the rain started again.