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Disability Awareness Day
Sunday 14th July 2024
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Disability Awareness Day
Sunday 14th July 2024
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Before the pandemic our annual Disability Awareness Day and Week events were planned and delivered through a 13-month cycle, with our management team suggesting changes for the following year’s events weeks before that year’s events had taken place. We constantly strive to find improvements year on year and use feedback from our exhibitors, stewards, visitors and sponsors to influence changes. COVID-19 changed everything; firstly, during 2020 as large events were banned, we made the brave decision to hold our 29th annual event online via a dedicated website www.dadvirtual.org.uk and it was incredible, heralded as an industry leader across the UK and wider afield. Our partners at 4wardfutures recreated Walton Hall and Gardens, and more importantly, the DAD event site, in the virtual world. It was truly surreal and inspiring, most importantly, it met our brief of providing an interactive platform to share disability related information, advice and guidance with visitors to the website. That said, it wasn't the same as a live show.
Earlier this year, as uncertainty about when months of national and local lockdowns would end, we had to reschedule our 30th anniversary event until later in the year. Thoughts about another virtual event were clearly in our minds.
The amazing Virtual DAD can be seen here
At the June meeting of our WDP Board our trustees gave a tentative green light to plan for an early September event, dependent on the government lifting the relative COVID-19 restrictions. But with ongoing uncertainty and further delayed release from lockdown our 30th anniversary event was cast further doubt. However, a few weeks later, after consultation with our local council’s events safety and public health teams, we were able to push the go button, and with little over 9 weeks, our DAD management team and support staff worked tirelessly to plan and deliver DAD 2021, our milestone events.
From the first phone telephone calls, we were encouraged by the responses from the majority of our supporters. Led by our amazing joint principal sponsors Expanse Learning Group and United Utilities, we were overwhelmed by the positive responses from our corporate sponsors; BAS (NW), NRS Healthcare, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington Borough Council, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Torus, Steve Morgan Foundation, Cheshire Community Foundation, Culture Warrington, Livewire and supporters Warrington's Own Buses, Active Cheshire, Chester University and our own Disability Trading Company. Securing the equipment and facilities felt like a logistical nightmare, with some suppliers struggling with staff shortages; others had limited stock as countrywide event’s organisers were also rescheduling their events around the same time as ourselves. After delicate negotiations with several marquee suppliers, which involved commencing the set up two days early and strip out one day late, we were able to finalise our plans, well logistically that is.
Securing exhibitors was another thing, it soon became apparent that countless organisations weren’t able to attend this year, as many statutory service teams were still focussed on battling COVID-19, with many of their staff still working from home. Some businesses were struggling with supplies, which resulted in them lacking confidence seeking sales for stock that they were unsure they could supply.
However, we had totally underestimated the devastating effect COVID-19 was continuing to have on many of the small, local, family run charities who had previously exhibited at DAD. Even the appeal of free exhibition stands for local charities and community groups, thanks to funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation and Cheshire Community Foundation, was not enough. As many groups said they were struggling with volunteer shortages, some still had staff off on Furlough; others were unsure when, or if they could restart their services that had remained closed throughout the pandemic. It was an absolute nightmare, very distressing.
Despite these difficulties, we finally managed to secure all of the equipment, facilities and exhibitors we need to put on the show. Our team worked tirelessly booking entertainers/performers for our arts marquee and main arena. We confirmed sports activities, advertising, promotions, first aid, BSL interpreters, accessible buses, park and ride site and minibuses, and we produced an excellent 30th anniversary event programme, which will serve as a resource directory for the year ahead.
As you can imagine, Disability Awareness Day relies on a team effort. But with the sad deaths of several regular members of our team (Peter, Colin, Charlie and Anne) and the loss of others (Brun and Terry) due to life changing illnesses, and several others not able to join us due to job changes, it was clear that the size of our team on and off the park was decimated. However, this gave us the additional inspiration to do it for those who wouldn’t be with us.
Late evening on Friday 3rd September, we commenced marking out the marquee locations and finalising outside space, interestingly, we identified four more spaces that expected, which allowed us to fit in some of the exhibitors on our waiting list. Saturday 4th, saw a small team of us hitting the shops for supplies of food and drinks needed for the site team and stewards who would be working at the event site for the next ten days. Whilst other members of the team we busy completing administrative tasks back at the Centre. Late afternoon we headed up to the event site to set up the road signs for heavy goods vehicles. Sunday 5th, a day earlier than previous years, saw our main marquee supplier arriving on site to commence the building of our village of marquees. We also used this time to sort through the tons of equipment, signs, banners, marquees and gazebo's that had been delivered and stored at the park the week before. The sun shone throughout the day, which is great for visitors to the park, but a nightmare for our small team, as we needed to ensure a safe working environment for the marquee company, which is tricky when you have large wagons and fork trucks driving around the park full of families. As we handed over to our security team at 9pm, it was nice to finally see the event site taking shape.
Our greatly depleted team stepped up as we managed delivery after delivery of equipment at the event site. With generators with the capacity to provide power to a small village, enough fencing to enclose a dozen football pitches, two container sized site huts that would be our temporary office and kitchen for the next week or so, 72 two two-way radios, enough ground matting to build a small road, dozens of fire extinguishers, more marquees and gazebos.
Whilst this was going on at the event site, our admin team back at the Centre for Independent Living were finalising exhibitor details, steward’s packs, ticket sales for our DAD Week events, the first of which was being held in the Hall at the event site. Local employers joined members of our employment team at a workshop titled, Making Warrington COVID Safe. Although the turnout was less than expected, which was due to a number of those registered were pinged by the COVID App. The team reported a number of positive discussions, which attendees had found very useful in supporting their disabled staff.
With no evening event, we were happy to hand over to our security team at 9pm.
Another busy day, as we arrived on site at 8am, our tables and chairs supplier was already unloading 1,000 chairs and over 300 tables. We were thankful for the addition of five very willing helpers from HM Prison Thorn Cross, the guys brought much needed physical support to our team, setting up our medium sized marquees and dozens of fencing panels. More of the large marquees were set up during the day, and we took delivery of some of the poshest portable toilets, plus accessible units. We started the setup of dozens and dozens of promotional banners around the event site, and fenced off the Arts Marquee Area, as some of the week events were invitation only.
With its new blackout and stars lighting on the ceiling covering the stage area and a brand new floor, the Arts Marquee looked amazing. By late afternoon when the stage was completed, the flags, bunting and sponsors banners were erected, and the sound and lighting rigging were finished, it was ready for guests, but sadly due to COVID, our evening event, Frogtastic Extravaganza, a favourite with our team, was cancelled. Sad as that was, it was a blessing, as we were able to get an early night, well, 10pm which is relatively early for the team.
On arrival to the event site we took a detailed look, measuring space between the marquees to see if we could fit in a few more exhibitors from our waiting list. We also took delivery of a huge refuse skip, for the tons of waste that is left by the visitors and exhibitors. It was great to catch up with a few old colleagues when the team from Mersey Care arrived to set up for their Ignite Your Life mental health and well-being event. During the morning session, it was inspiring to hear from Danny and Phil from State of Mind charity and several people talking about their experiences of mental illness and coping strategies.
The hundreds of attendees were treated to a great buffet lunch that had been prepared by our team back at the centre, including several trustees who I’m told spread more butter on themselves than on the bread…. The afternoon saw a programme of health and well-being activities including flower arranging, crafts, therapies and cycling, kept the hundreds of participants entertained. Again it was nice to catch up with some regulars, many shared their experiences of how the pandemic had effected them, several stating that the event was the first time they had been out socially for nearly 18 months.
As the last of the day’s events visitors left, our team got to work cleaning and preparing the marquee ready for our early evening event, our own 30th Anniversary celebrations. Our team were eager to assist the suppliers of our temporary Bar to set up, I think it was in hope of a free sample......lol
As hundreds of guests arrived, they tucked in to another great buffet prepared by our team back at the Centre. I paused for a moment looking at the stage where the huge numbers three and zero shone in bright lights, thinking back on the past 30 years and of the many adventures we have shared. When I first went on stage to start proceedings, I looked across at all of our guests wondering what Eric and Alan; my fellow founder members would be thinking if they were here today. It filled me with sheer pride that we had reached this milestone, but tinged with sadness, that we have lost so many good people along the way.
Sadly, our chair was not able to join us as he was recovering from a hip replacement, so our deputy chair stepped up to give the opening address. Next I gave a brief look back at to where it all began, at the Dallam Day Centre in 1991. I recalled the day when we asked the centre manager for four books of stamps so we could complete the mail out for our first Disability Awareness Day, only to be told that we had had four books last week, and we needed to consider if it was worth the cost and effort! Well, I think there are many people who can answer that question.
It was great to hear from members of the team, as they read out our amazing timeline, first sharing a fact from a particular year, followed by a significant fact from our WDP, DAD and DTC journey. I had tears in my eyes when my granddaughters stepped forward. Our entertainment for the evening was provided by the totally inspirational team from ELLA Together Performance Group. The talents of singing and dancing captivated our guests.
After a short break we shared more highlight facts from the past 30 years, which included:
The most inspiration and humbling part of the evening was hearing from some of our young members of staff about how WDP has affected their lives. When people ask me about the highlights from my involvement during the past 30 years, our work providing a platform for young disabled people to develop their skills and experience, is up there in the top three. Feeling totally satisfied that we had delivered two incredible DAD Week events, we gladly handed over the site to our security team at around 11pm and headed home.
I called in to the Centre to say thank you to the team members who were finalising the administrative tasks, of which there are plenty, especially with exhibitors and stewards pulling out at the last minute due to COVID and slotting in others from our waiting list. On arrival to the event site, it was good to see our team had already cleaned up from the previous evenings activities.
Mid-morning, it was nice to welcome back the team from WIRED Carers Centre for their Carers Well-being Event. Sadly, the number of attendees was affected by the wet and windy weather, and the fact many main routes through Warrington were closed for the Tour of Britain Cycle Race. Those who did make it had a great time. Collecting information from the exhibition stands, and being entertained by a great singer, and the opportunity to distress, with a range of alternative therapies and they enjoyed a great buffet, once again prepared by our team back at the Centre.
The event produced one of the nicest memories for our team, two visitors were a husband and wife, he has dementia and is non-verbal and shows no emotion. Whilst they were sat listening to the singer, he started to tap to the tune, then looked and smiled at his wife and turned his gaze to the dance floor. She asked him if he wanted to dance and he nodded. As they danced, they held hands and he lent forward and kissed her, something he hadn’t done for several years. Just a magical moment, one that is a great reminder that it is quality moments like this that make all the effort to organise DAD, all the worthwhile.
As soon as the carers event finished, our team prepared not just the Arts Marquee, but three other marquees and open space for our Party in the Park for Young People, that this year would involve Warrington Youth Club, WIRED Young Carers, Warrington Wolves Foundation and our own team of young people at WDP. We also had to set up for our first Stewards Safety Meeting being held at the same time as the Party in the Park. By 7pm nearly 200 young people had arrived and it was looking set for an amazing evening, but the clouds that had been threatening rain all day, finally hit us with some of the heaviest rain our team had ever experienced, it was like a monsoon, leaving rivers running down the paths and deep pools of water looking like mini lakes inside the marquees and across the park, but the young people were just getting on with enjoying themselves.
At around 7.30pm, just as the stewards were arriving for our safety meeting, things were starting to get desperate, during a discussion with senior members of our team and the lead staff from each charity, we considered abandoning the event. We reached the decision to see how things went by getting everyone together in the Arts Marquee, as contacting parents to collect their children would be a nightmare. Once they were all together, it was manic. Interestingly, it was organised chaos, as the youngsters once again, just got on with enjoying themselves. There were several parties going on in one place, with karaoke on the stage, several different beats of music on the silent disco, another theme of music played out at the back of the marquee on a separate sound system, it certainly was different, and had to be experienced to understand how bizarre it was.
All this energy needed feeding, so it wasn’t surprising that the massive buffet, once again prepared back at the Centre, was demolished, the remnants were donated to the local homeless shelter. Before finishing on the Party in the Park, I need to make a special Thank You to the team from Warrington Youth Club, they were absolutely amazing throughout.
Around 8pm we headed over to another marquee for the first of our steward’s safety briefing. As I looked around, it was clear to see those of us who had been on site during the torrential rain, as we were all dripping wet. It was nice to start the meeting with a minute’s silence in remembrance of stewards who were no longer with us, namely Peter and Colin, and Terry and Brun, who were recovering from serious illnesses. It was also nice to see so many regular faces, many of whom we don’t see in between DAD events, and it was extra special to see an old team mate from my American Football days who had responded to my call out for support.
Sadly, during the evening, two of our team fell badly due to the slippy conditions.
As our visitors left the site, we did a quick clean up and we secured the marquees, before finally handing over a set of very wet keys to our security guards at around 11.30pm.
Another busy day for the team, setting up the Arts Marquee for our DAD Mega Quiz Night and preparing for the arrival of the first of our outside exhibitors. During the day we took delivery of around a dozen of our large exhibitors and several pallets of DAD programmes and exhibitors materials. Several car dealerships and transport providers also arrived on site. Around 150 guests joined us for the Mega Quiz Night that was hosted by the guys from the Duck Pond, who brought their own special humour to the evening. The games, raffle and charity auction were hugely successful, raising valuable funds for WDP. The hot food, this time not prepared by our team at the Centre, went down a treat.
As the clock struck 12 o’clock, we finally handed over to our securing team.
As our event site team arrived on site or admin team arrived at the Centre, both knowing that the finishing line was in sight. It was great to see friends from Warrington Lions, who together with a number of fresh stewards started to tackle the long list of setting up tasks that include marking out the exhibitor spaces inside and out, relocating our number one marquee across the park, not a little job, relocating gazebo's, setting out over 1,000 chairs and tables, building the main arena, relocating generators, tons of fencing panels and dozens of promotional banners. Setting up the Sports Zone, including completing filling up our onsite swimming pool for scuba diving.
The display items needed for our WDP and Disability Trading Company exhibition stands arrived mid-afternoon in 6 large vans, in addition to materials for our fundraising stands, and display items for our Disability Heritage Project including our three wheeled Invacar AC70 and 2 hundred year-old wheelchairs.
We set up road signs for our Park and Ride site and other signage around the main entrance to the event site. At 2pm, we took a break from setting up, and headed over to our 2nd Stewards Safety Briefing. It was nice to see a number of new faces alongside dozens of experienced volunteers. Once finished, we completed the setup of the Arts Marquee ready for Sundays full programme of entertainment.
Mid-afternoon saw dozens of catering units and children’s fairground rides arrive on site, and more of our exhibitors delivered cars, accessible vans and buses. Throughout the day our friends from Acts Sound and Lighting rigged up sound systems and power supplies across the event site which involved miles of cabling.
Apart from a few nightmares after finding some of the exhibition areas very muddy, which meant we had to relocate them, everything went to plan. At around 10pm, we handed over to our security team, knowing that tomorrow would be the highlight of an amazing week that had seen scorching sunshine, monsoon rain, overcast dark clouds, high gusting winds, and we had finally done it. I didn't have a great night’s sleep, as I lay awake thinking about how our 30th anniversary event would go, due mainly to the poor weather forecast.
The big day arrived. DAD30. Most of the management team arrived on site at around 6pm, and we were met by members of the team who were already completing the final setup of fire extinguishers, chairs, fencing and promotional flags. Our admin team had setup the stewards signing in desks, handing our polo shirts, florescent jackets, radio’s, stewards packs, refreshment allowances and location plans.
At around 8am, the first few exhibitor’s vehicles started to arrive, and by 8.30am there was a queue from the entrance bridge stretching past the greenhouses. During the next hour, our stewards co-ordinated the arrival and setting up of hundreds of exhibitors and sports zone activity operators, and by 9am we saw the first of our Arts Marquee entertainers arriving.
At 10am I met up at the entrance bridge with Peter Powell, Lymm Town Crier and members of the Liverpool Pipe Band to perform the official opening. After Peters call to action with his bell and booming voice, the band led a rousing march into the gardens. Throughout the day it was great to see the streams of visitors entering the park, making their way through the marquees and outside areas. There was plenty to see, with nearly 200 exhibitors displaying mobility and independent living equipment, transport, holidays, leisure, employment, support groups and services. Our Sports Zone offered Scuba diving, football, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair, physical disability and learning disability rugby, golf, tennis and Tia Chi.
New for DAD30 was a marquee dedicated to arts and crafts, with painting, poetry and photography. Nationally acclaimed disabled writer Grandad Wheels treated visitors to readings from his books.
In the Performing Arts Marquee visitors were entertained by a great line up of artists including nationally acclaimed Ella Together and Warrington BSL Signing Choir, Creating Adventures, Dream Team Drama, Warrington West Concert Band, Bridgewater Singers, Wired for Sound and Corey Scene and AM3.
In our Centre Arena visitors were treated to marching bands, dogs and bird displays, rugby and Tia Chi. If all this wasn't enough, making a popular return was the marquee hosting our Silent Disco which provides visitors with a choice of music and control over the sound levels, ideal for some people who have neuro diverse conditions.
Visitor and exhibitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many praised the fact the event was free entry and we offered a free programme, and a wide variety of support services including free wheelchair and mobility scooter loans, BSL interpreters, free park and ride and bus services.
We were honoured to have several special guests at our milestone event, with the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Robert Mee DL, Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Maureen Creaghan, South Warrington MP Andy Carter and Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer.
During the welcome speeches at our VIP Reception in the Hall, the weather changed from sunshine, to overcast and then heavy rain. This didn't deter our principal sponsors United Utilities and Expanse Learning, delivering presentations to our guest’s, taking time to highlight the range of inclusive services they provide to disabled people. It was great to hear that they both plan to extend their sponsorship for our 2022 event. All of our sponsors and supporters were presented with certificates and mementoes, before heading back to the event site. As a result of the poor weather, we relocated the presentation of our best exhibitor awards undercover of the Arts Marquee. It was a pleasure to present Stanley Grange with the Best Voluntary Sector exhibitor, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioners Office with the Best Statutory Service and Limb-Art with the Best Business exhibitor. Due the shorter days, we closed the event at 4pm, and with the poor weather, visitors soon headed home which made the clean-up much easier, albeit very wet.
Just like the queue of vehicles entering the event site earlier in the morning, there was a huge line of vehicles heading out, and in a little over two hours, we were left with the funfair and catering units, plus those exhibitors who were collecting their vehicles on Monday.
During the next few hours, DAD’s Army, Walton Hall and Gardens rangers and the guys from Acts Sound and Lighting, worked tirelessly to strip down and clean up the event site. After removing hundreds of bags and boxes of rubbish, over 1,000 tables and chairs, fencing panels, pins and plastic fencing, hundreds of signs and display materials. In the knowledge that we would have a greatly depleted team for Monday and Tuesdays final clear up we decided to pack up and move around eight vanloads of equipment back to WDP.
At around 7pm, we headed to Walton Hall for the eagerly awaited Stewards Debrief, where some hot food and a cool drink was waiting, and we could get the chance to say thank you and handout mementoes to DAD’s Army. Before we got the chance to sit down, we setup the obligatory DAD’s Army team photo, but due to it going dark outside, we lined up on the huge stairs in the hall.
We started the session with a minute’s silence for Peter and Colin, and we arranged a video of personal and a collective get well soon messages for Terry, who was recuperating in hospital. It was filmed by his granddaughter who had joined DAD’s Army to represent her grandad. Just before we finished, I received a What’s App call from Takang, co-ordinator of DAD Cameroon who was giving us an update on their event, that had been running during the day. He said later that he was surprised when dozens of people shouted “Hello Takang”.
We handed over to security for the final time at around 10.30pm, over 16 hours after we had arrived on site.
We arrived back on site at around 8.30am, the tables and chairs were almost loaded, and during the next few hours, the event site was looking much barer, with the collection of the mobile toilet units, three of the four giant generators, dozens of fire extinguishers, 75 radios, ground matting and much more were removed, and all of the remaining exhibitor display vehicles and equipment. By late afternoon half of the marquees had been dismantled. Our team were kept busy transporting van loads of equipment back to WDP where another team was busy sorting through vanload after vanload of equipment that needed to be returned to our DTC and WDP services in Warrington and Liverpool.
I joined other members of team to undertake one of the vital, but often unseen jobs we do at the park, which is to pick up hundreds of plastic cable ties from across the whole event site that were used for the signs and banners. Due to logistical difficulties, our main marquee suppliers had to leave their final breakdown until Tuesday, so at around 8pm, we handed over the key to our site cabins to our security team for the last time for DAD2021.
We arrived on site with probably the smallest team ever, we had just a few tasks to complete whilst our remaining marquees were removed. By early afternoon, they were cleared, followed closely with the collection of our site cabins and overflowing refuse skip. Back at the Centre, our team were putting away the last of the equipment, display and fundraising materials we had returned.
At exactly 6pm, the event site was finally cleared. As we looked across the park, it was encouraging to see no major damage had been done, in fact, the only evidence that we had been there, were the impressions in the grass where the public had walked, and the slightly yellowed grass where the large Art Marquee had been.
The post event evaluation had already commenced, collating the feedback from visitor and exhibitor questionnaires, producing reports from the social media channels and websites. All the reports were very encouraging. During the days afterwards we received news that Disability Awareness Day had been celebrated far and wide, by many top brand named companies including: Liberty Group, Raconteur, Brookings Property Management Services, Small Charities Coalition, SIPTU, St Johns Foundation, Rail Delivery Group, Disabled Peoples Voice, Deaf Scotland, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, Henshaws, UK Government Disability Unit, Elman Peace and Humanitarian Aid Somalia, Beacon 4 Blind People, the Practice Plus Group, the Residents and Relatives Support Organisation, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Disability:In, MHM Wales, Twinkl Resources, Cooperative Care, Creative Mojo, Independent Age, the National Pensioners Convention, Good Oaks Home Care, Playlist for Life, Derby City Council, Wirral Evolutions Ltd, Penny Appeal, Health Watch South Gloucestershire,
None of what we have achieved would be possible without the combined efforts of hundreds of people and organisations. None more so than the physical effort given by our management team, DAD Week teams (on the park and in the office), DAD’s Army of volunteers, Walton Hall and Gardens staff and rangers, members of Lions Clubs International, Warrington Sea Cadets, Thorn Cross Prison and our suppliers.
Each year DAD events involve over 130 volunteers. During the 30 DAD events, it is estimated that DAD stewards and our onsite team have walked over 53,000,000 steps, which equates to 26,856 miles or more than once around the world. This year one member of the team recorded over 310,000 steps, which equals 155 miles, during his time volunteering onsite during the build, events and take down.
Huge thanks to our sponsors and supporters, our exhibitors, our advertisers and most importantly, our visitors.
Since its humble beginnings three decades ago Disability Awareness Day has grown beyond our wildest dreams and has taken place in countless towns and cities in the UK, and 13 countries worldwide, not to mention the social media coverage with #DAD. It is little wonder that DAD Warrington is recognised as the world’s largest voluntary led pan disability event. Since its launch in 1992 over £1 million has been raised by charities attending DAD events which have also attracted over 630,000 visitors, with over 19,000 attending this year’s events alone.
Looking ahead to 2022 and beyond. Well, we are already reviewing how we can add to the visitor experience, whilst not losing sight of the main aim of DAD, that of providing visitors with information, advice and guidance on. Until the time comes when we cannot financially afford to run DAD or when the public and/or exhibitors tell us that it’s not needed, we will be back for another event.
Thanks again to everyone who played a part in DAD2021, and DAD events during the past 30 years.
Thanks for keeping the dream alive.Kind regards.
Dave Thompson MBE DL
DAD Co-ordinator
Huge thanks to:
Sean, Neil, Gavin, Paddy and all the team at Walton Hall & Gardens. Sue Bentley of Skill Zone. Martin Naylor and Acts Sound & Lighting. Fretus First Aid. Warrington Guardian. Gary Skentelbery and Warrington Worldwide. Radio General - Hospital Radio. F11 Photography. Matt Dempsey. Warrington Sea Cadets TS Obdurate. Relay Technical Transport. Bruntwood. Thorn Cross. South Warrington News. Warrington Rotary Club. Central Self Drive. NSL Parking. Warrington’s Own Buses. WBC – Highways Assets Team. BT Skips. HCC Printers. Bright Futures Care. To everyone who supported the DAD quiz night auction and raffle with prize donations including: Acoustic Café, Barley Mow, Chapelford Farm, Cheshire Cycles, Cineworld, Co-op Hawthorne Avenue, Griffin Inn, Hancock & Wood, Harefield Gift Shop, Kenji, Maplewood Restaurant, Red Lion Penketh, Rhode Island Coffee, Scoop!, The Body Shop, The Entertainer, The Fragrance Shop, Trigger Pond, Vintage Viola, Waterstone’s, Today Team, The Maltings, Miller & Carter, Oliver’s, Little Luxury, Sensory Centre, O’Neil’s Penketh and Sankey Bridges Autos.
and finally a thank you to:
All of Team WDP and everyone else that helped organise events during DAD Week, The DAD 2021 Event Site Team including Pam, Gavin, Dave W, Janis W, John M, Bob, Mark, Lee, Ben, John E, Karl, Fred, Edwin, Graham, Phil and the lads from Thorn Cross. The DAD 2021 Admin Office Team including Caroline, Kate, Sue, Laura, Ebony, John B, Ellie T, Pam R, Ellie L, Derek, Rain, Eileen, Pat, Jan P, Ellen and Leigh. Plus, our temporary catering crew; Pat, Eileen, Sue, Jan, Pam R, Veronica and Kay. All of our stewards, volunteers, enablers and assistants.
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