Conditions were absolutely ideal for a large turnout at Top Dre yesterday afternoon & evening. Wasn't it a good show. And a slight cooling in the afternoon when compared to earlier plus intermittent cloud cover not only made the spectacular pleasant, it set the scene for a reduction in the lethal cocktail of sun and alcohol. Neither the blog photographer nor I noticed any major problems.
That said, there were a few isolated incidents, particularly where teenagers found themselves incapable of holding their liquor. A squalid little brawl and swearing match broke out on Clwyd Street that one of the Boar's bouncers skilfully & quickly defused. This is the seamier side of Top Dre and the spectre of tiresome teenage revellers under out of control actually acts as a deterrent for some. In the past, the festival's been linked to wanton vandalism.
This aside, yesterday Rhuthun/Ruthin was at its best. The atmosphere was great. The crowd was appreciative. The pub sponsors were no doubt happy. It gave us all an opportunity to catch up with friends close & from afar. And was it me or were numbers higher than in recent times? The street closure notices taped to a couple of lamp columns stated that the area would be "thronged". There's a word you don't hear too often. But it described the situation beautifully.
Shopping grinds to a halt during Top Dre, of course, and premises around the Square shut. But the picture is not one of universal retail catastrophe. Veena's handbag & fish pedicure shop was open till the final moments of Top Dre. Harris Toys' door stayed ajar much later than usual, with hordes of children popping in & out. It seemed that "fun snaps" were popular. These harmless bombs made a loud crack when dashed on the ground. Something akin to the cap guns of yore, perhaps.
To the anonymous contributor of 28th June who felt that of the post entitled Gŵyl "For the first time ever I am disappointed in you Non", don't let it be said that I can't enter the spirit of Rhuthun!
And let's not forget the clean-up. This morning in just a few hours' time any early riser will be able to walk the streets of Rhuthun as if nothing happened. As well as the volunteer festival organisers, we should also be indebted to the squad of cleaners whose thankless task it is to clear up the mess we carelessly leave behind, often without a thought for their job.