THEY almost called it a day but cliff-top capers will continue again this year over two days at Gorleston.
Such was the response to an appeal for volunteers to help steer the event that organisers have announced the festival will go ahead on July 30 and 31.
Among the new recruits helping out alongside some old hands is Vicky Smith of Gorleston.
The 22-year-old final year business management student at the University of East Anglia is hoping for relevant experience to boost her CV and welcomes the chance to be part of an event she enjoys attending.
She said: “I have enjoyed going to it and being as this is my last year at university I was looking at doing some volunteer work and this is perfect. I have been the last couple of years and absolutely loved it. A lot of my friends look forward to it all year.”
Vicky, who hails from Haddiscoe, will be managing the website and Facebook profile for Gorleston in Gear and maximising publicity for the event which has always enjoyed enthusiastic public support despite dwindling volunteer action.
Now, however, following the appeal the task list has been carved up between a core group of around 15 people who will be co-ordinating the arenas and possibly introducing a “wellbeing” element on the Saturday.
Vicky added that there had been a lot of uncertainty over funding and volunteers which had ended after Great Yarmouth Borough Council agreed to carry on working in partnership with GIG and providing some funding.
Re-branded last year from a gala to a festival, a string of successful events staged mainly in good weather has seen it become a community calendar favourite with everything from helicopter rides to sedate kiddie swings, charity stalls and top local music.
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