Leigh Regatta

August 1, 2014 by Joanna Harrison

Here's a picture taken in 1925 of the men of Leigh playing a game of football on the estuary mud during the Leigh Regatta. They're completely mud streaked, in top hats, with joy on their faces and masts of Thames Barges tinkling in the background. If you turned it into a colour photo, and maybe updated the clothes to be less 'skirty', it could have been taken out at the Ray during last year's Leigh Regatta.

As an annual charity event, the Regatta has always been known as the summer's last swansong: always in September, when the weather is still good but you know it won't last. Organised by the local sea scout community, the weekend of events included Morris dancing, live music, cockle eating competitions, greasy pole climbing, boat races and of course, just like 1925, mud football.

It has been up there as one of Leigh's biggest events, following the Folk Festival, where people can meet up, listen to music, eat locally caught seafood, drink local ale, and be a part of something. It seemed such a shame that it was announced only a week or so ago that the much anticipated Regatta had been cancelled...... 

But GOOD NEWS has been announced today; The Lions Club have committed to holding a one day event in place of the Regatta. Historically, the money raised has been for The Leigh Scout Community but this year, it will run for the benefit of the whole community!

Please everybody, individual volunteers and business', contact Tony Prior, Chairman of the Club Activities to see how you can help make this years the very best!



Part of this Article was contributed by Ray Morgan (the good bit)