Bockstock is set to become an annual Bank Holiday music festival after yesterday’s successful event sparked a bumper Bank Holiday Sunday for Welshpool.
The town was packed, with hundreds of revellers attending the free charity concert at the Raven Inn before joining hundreds more in the town centre pubs who reported their busiest day of the year.
Such were the numbers of people, by 10pm Churchills was operating a ‘one out, one in’ policy and the queue for the local nightclub, Moltos, was stretching across the road to the Angel as police coped well to manage the crowds.
“It was an incredible day for the town,” said Lee Bocking, the Raven Inn landlord: “At one stage in the morning we were worried that we would have to bring the event indoors but luckily the sun came out and the crowds turned up in big numbers.
“It looks like we have raised at least 700 pounds for the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre Appeal which is great news and we are going to look at possibly a bigger venue for next year. Thanks to everyone who got involved and gave their time for free; particularly the bands and Wrights Self Drive and Cambrian Training for their support.”
Headlined by local bands the Soul Jets, Colour Sunday and solo artist Dai Robs, a total of nine bands rocked the Raven Inn beer garden through to the early evening when the hoards hit the town centre.
So as Welshpool recovers from its collective hangover today, local man Colin Rogers summed up the day best by saying: “I haven’t seen the town as busy as that for many years.”
PICTURES: Colin Rogers/Steve Cross