Viking Festival chairman Alex Gallagher has written a letter to the Largs News to thank all the groups and individuals who helped make this year's event an outstanding success... 

You report (Wed 7th Sept) on another successful Largs Viking Festival. Despite the problems caused by the cancellation of the traditional Party at the Pencil, there was a great "buzz" around this year's Festival.  Highlights included an emotional climax with a WW2 Lanacaster bomber and a very well received fireworks display. The traditional events of the Opening Parade, Viking Village and Scottish Markets are the mainstay of the Festival and with the addition of three aerobatic displays the programme had something for everyone. Again there were record crowds of 70,000 over the eight days, with a net economic impact of £350,000 to Largs and district. The town was en-fete and the whole thing had such a wonderful atmosphere.

Our Patron, Norwegian Professor Magnus Fladmark, is ill and his presence was hugely missed. A large vote of thanks is due to the Festival Board, who work tirelessly throughout the year to plan and deliver the Festival and without whom none of these things would take place, to our loyal supporters. We also appreciate the support that we get from the public in Largs and the surrounding area. It is the knowledge of this support that drives the organizing committee to improve the Viking Festival year on year.

    This year the Festival was officially opened by BBC Newsreader and Reporter, Suzanne Allan. Thanks are also extended to the people of Largs and North Ayrshire and beyond for turning out in such great numbers to support the Festival. The atmosphere was truly amazing and friendly in every way. It is the aim of the Festival Board to provide a Festival which is truly community based and which delivers for the local community. We believe that we have succeeded in that aim.

The Festival could not have happened this year without the financial support and in-kind support of North Ayrshire Council,  MalinWaters, Magnox Socio-economic Scheme, SSE Community Fund,  Beachcombers (W. Irvin), Clark's Amusements, Vinnie's Flowers, Costa Coffee, Wetherspoons, Nardinis of Largs Limited and Race Watson. We are also extremely grateful for the support of Largs and District Round Table, whose generous contribution to the fireworks display was much appreciated, of Henry Fitzsimmons, who kindly donated the curtain trailer for the stage, Claire Meal of Explore Largs (BID) for help with marketing and the national media and the Largs Community Resilience Team who kindly assisted throughout the Festival. We are also delighted to have had contributions by many local performers including the Largs Academy Swing Band, Clyde Coast Strathspey and Reel Society, St John's Scottish Country Dancing and also many local organisations in the Opening Parade. We hope they enjoyed showcasing their talent to a very appreciative audience.

This list is not exhaustive and we regret our inability to thank all supporting groups and individuals, but it serves to illustrate how many local and national people and organisations come together to provide the annual jamboree which is Largs Viking Festival. The Largs Viking Festival Board is now looking forward to similar, perhaps even greater, success in 2017.

Yours sincerely

Alex Gallagher Chair, and on behalf of, Largs Viking Festival Board