ALTON Lions’ 10th Party in the Park conjured up sunshine to attract a healthy crowd of funseekers to the Public Gardens on Saturday.

Raising funds for the children of Treloar School and College, as well as myriad charities and organisations, the event brought ‘A Kind of Magic’ to the town centre park, with magic shows, a stilt-walking knight, the ‘Hokwarts’ Express ride-on steam engine, and bouncy slides.

Paul Le Feuvre of Wey Valley Radio acted as compere, and live music in the bandstand came courtesy of Tripwire. Also providing entertainment were the Holybourne Singers’ Young Voices, the young country dancers from Alton Infant School, and Alton Morris.

Opened by town mayor Dean Phillips, accompanied by Bentley’s very own Elvis (aka Dave Hurrell), who arrived in a 1976 pink Cadillac Eldorado loaned and driven by Mick Milton, the party’s VIPs were welcomed by Alton Lions president Mike Gwynne disguised as the kindly wizard Stumbledore and announced by town crier Stan Whitcher.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International, this was a special event for Alton Lions. It is run in partnership with Treloar’s, which provided the bar and the tea tent, alongside the Lions barbecue, and which run a TRElottery summer super draw to coincide with the event. With a first prize of £2,000, tickets are still available from the Alton Herald office on Market Square. The draw will take place on August 11.

Alton Lions have expressed grateful thanks to everyone who supported this year’s Party in the Park, in particular Alton Town Council for allowing the use of the Public Gardens and for sponsoring the event, along with Molson Coors, First Exchange, the Newbury Building Society, Alton Herald, Sweet Chocolate, and Wildly Upbeat Printers.

Cash raised will be used to help Treloar’s provide its young disabled students with opportunities others take for granted.