On Saturday 14th September the sun shone on Retford as a Stagecoach carried passengers around town to celebrate Retford Heritage Open Day.
Dick Turpin accosted Councillor Sue Shaw, Chairman of Bassetlaw District Council, and demanded gold coins before allowing her to cross the Market Square to the Town Hall for the official Grand Opening at 10.00am.
Town Crier, Paul Cookson, rang his bell to announce the proceedings, the Mayor, Councillor David Naylor, thanked Retford Civic Society for organising the day, the Community Singers sang ‘Roam Around Retford’ and Rattlejag Morris danced in celebration.
Lucky winners of the Retford Life Stagecoach Ticket Competition joined others who picked up Golden Tickets from the Town Hall Voluntary Organisations’ Showcase event, to ride through town in style.
As St Swithun’s Church’s bells rang out, a Blue Plaque was unveiled by the Mayor on the Old Crown Inn, to commemorate the decision made there in 1770 to bring the Chesterfield Canal through Retford.
Mosaic panels of ‘The Flying Scotsman’ and its owner, Alan Pegler, were celebrated on Retford Station by The Friends Of Retford Station. Bassetlaw Museum hosted a display of vintage bicycles and the Denman Library showed vintage Retford maps. Around town eight iconic buildings were freely open with tours and Commonwealth War Graves’ Tours took place in Retford Cemetery.
Derek Turner, Chairman of Retford Civic Society, said: “The historical road, canal and rail links important to the prosperity of Retford have perfectly matched the National Heritage Open Days theme of ‘Networks’ and the community has had a wonderful day, enjoying its heritage.”