West End Festival

Glasgow West End Festival 2005

Glasgow held its annual West End Festival between 10 and 26 June. As in previous years, we were invited to participate in the displays before the Opening Parade on Sunday 12 June. After the success of last year, we decided to setup a come-and-try session in the Botanic Gardens.

There are lots more photos on the gallery page - including larger versions of the ones here.

Around 2pm, members of the club arrived with various bags of fencing kit. We laid out a piste on an almost level patch of grass next to the glasshouses. Then it started to rain. So we packed every thing up again and waited for the rain to stop.

After 5 or so minutes, the rain stopped and we set out the piste again. Then we got started on the serious business - deciding who would have the "downhill" end of the piste.

As well as the usual equipment for adults to have a go, we also catered for some junior prospective fencers. We had a loan of some plastic swords and masks [thanks Dusty] and Car Stevenson had volunteered to come along to coach any youngsters.

Several groups of keen kids happy to get the chance to play with swords. Lots of sibling rivalry to sort out.

Just as we were rounding up a few more youngsters who had been watching us big kids playing fencing, it began to rain again. Hurried packing and moving of our equipment under the nearest trees. It would only be a shower we told the kids - come back when the rain is off.

After about 20 minutes, when the rain (and hail) had stopped again, we decided that maybe electric fencing on wet grass was not the best idea. Although we did have to turn away two keen youngsters who had come back looking to have a go at fencing. All we had to offer them was a leaflet about Car's proposed new club.

Car will be starting a new fencing club in the Autumn which will provide coaching for kids from the age of 7 (and adults too). Team Touché Turtle is expected to have a venue in the Southside of Glasgow.