Maidenhead Advertiser

Rattle and roll up for a grand day out

Royal Borough: The Cherry Pickers are planning a glorious return for the Gravity Grand Prix

- By David Lee davidl@baylismedi­a.co.uk @DavidLee_BM

A popular soap box race is hoping to return to Cookham Dean later this year.

Organisers of the Gravity Grand Prix, the Cherry Pickers of Cookham Dean, are hoping to host the family-fun event on Sunday, September 12 following a one-year hiatus due to the coronaviru­s crisis.

The race sees homemade karts hurtle through the village with crowds turning out in their hundreds to cheer the competitor­s on.

More than £130,000 has been raised for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance by the event since it launched in 2007.

Peter Austen, treasurer and race controller for the Gravity Grand Prix, said: “I think events like this are vital and the community is sitting their holding its breath at the moment.

“All the feedback we get is people really want something to look forward to so planning these things is good for the community.”

The event’s organising committee said it will review the situation regarding the Government’s coronaviru­s restrictio­ns at the end of May.

Max Stevenson, leader of the organising team, added: “The recent government announceme­nts have paved the way for us to start planning.

“We are very mindful that we need to take account of all the guidance from national and local authoritie­s and also listen carefully to the views of the residents of Cookham Dean.

“We have not made a final commitment yet and will continue to review the situation between now and the end of May.

“We did, however, want to get a date in everyone’s diaries and get the contestant­s thinking about their karts which often take more than three months to build.”

Visit www.gravitygra­ndprix.co.uk for further informatio­n and email info@gravitygra­ndprix.co.uk to contact the organisers.

 ??  ?? Gravity Grand Prix, Cookham Dean. Ref:131791-57
Gravity Grand Prix, Cookham Dean. Ref:131791-57
 ??  ?? SOCIALISIN­G AGAIN: Children benefit from mixing in the classroom and the playground.
SOCIALISIN­G AGAIN: Children benefit from mixing in the classroom and the playground.

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