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Great Ayton shortlisted for Village of the Year

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The competition is on for Great Ayton in Channel Four's ‘Village of the Year’ 2017

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Channel Four are putting together a series of programmes under the title ‘Village of the Year’ and Great Ayton has made it to the shortlist of seventy-six out of four hundred entrants with greatest thanks to Ian Pearce of Great Ayton History Society whom sent in the application for the competition and has been liaising with ReefTV ever since! 

Andy Cook of ReefTV, who are producing the programmes, came along to film the village on Thursday, 27th July.  

ReefTV Film Crew

(Andy Cook and the film crew from ReefTV)

After holding initial discussions on Thursday, 20th July in the Royal Oak, Channel Four have made their own selection from the many ideas that we put to him, and these are:

  • Interview with Rev Paul Peverell whom will say how wonderful it is to live in the village
  • Demonstration of Longsword Dancing on High Green with Brian Pearce, Caryn and Mike Loftus.

Leven Sword with presenter Alex

(Leven Sword demonstrating the art of the longsword dance along with presenter Alex)

  • Petch’s pies being made with Frank Stephenson
  • Interview with Ken Taylor outside the Great Ayton Discovery Centre
  • Visit to DF Motors at the station to see three generations of the Ferguson family at work
  • Interview with Katie and Simon Fletcher from The Royal Oak Hotel
  • Interview with Sarah Botez of Visit Great Ayton (a subsidiary digital product of Studio Botez)
  • Possibly a look at the pigeon lofts on the allotments with Eric Harrison.

The programme should generate more interest in the village and increase visitor footfall so fingers-crossed the judging panel think Great Ayton are in the top running and we make it on to the TV schedule!  There is an award of £10,000 for community work within the village if we are judged to be the ‘Village of the Year’. 

With so many other villages in the competition, the challenge is on! To be narrowed down into Channel Four’s shortlist is an incredible achievement in itself.

Written by Ian Pearce - Secretary of Great Ayton History Society

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