CarFest North – Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July 2022

Words & Pictures by Ken Graham

The rain didn’t dampen Figgy spirits at CarFest North!

For the 8th consecutive year, from 22nd to 24th July (with a 2020 Covid gap), Figaro Owners Club members headed to the Bolesworth Estate in Cheshire for CarFest North, the brainchild of Chris Evans, which raises funds for UK Children’s Charities.

If ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ this doesn’t seem to be the case with our members and CarFest North, as this year, we had eight cars (our largest number ever!)

Those arriving on Thursday to set up joined fellow members and friends for a ‘getting to know you’ or, indeed, a ‘nice to see you again!’ pub meal at the Egerton Arms, thankfully close enough to the campsite to walk – and this set us all up for the weekend ahead.

During the day our members staff the Club stand on a rota basis which ensures we always have members around to chat with visitors but also allows everyone to get around the festival to engage in the daytime events (this allowed me to catch Sir Chris Hoy being interviewed by the BBC’s Louise Minchin which was really entertaining!)

As ever our stand gets loads of visitors, many returning ’fans’ who visit us every year together with the usual ‘What are they?’ and ‘OMG! I want one!!’ comments.

In the evening the music on offer was wide-ranging – despite a COVID call-off (The Fratellis) and an ‘admin issue’ call-off (Richard Ashcroft) we were still treated to Sister Sledge; Seasick Steve; McFly; Steps, The Feeling; Lulu; Roachford; Ricky Wilson; Mel C; Faithless Sound System; Nile Rogers & Chic and Ronan Keating amongst many more.

Typical UK weather with sunny intervals interspersed with multiple heavy showers over all three days didn’t manage to dampen our Figgy enthusiasm, but grateful thanks go to Dominique Pearce and Alan & Sheena Harvey for bringing their gazebos along – with 16+ folk needing shelter they were both absolutely essential!

Thanks though also go to every single member who attended – your support for this event makes it what it is – rain or shine!!!