More information has been released by Chesterfield Borough Council regarding an event taking place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, which will hopefully see horse-drawn tramcar Chesterfield 8 make a brief return visit to its former home town. As reported previously, the National Tramway Museum has been asked if the tram can be made available for a special guest appearance at the first ever Chesterfield Community Arts Festival, which is being held from Thursday 2nd to Monday 6th May.
Although not yet confirmed by the TMS, information on the Chesterfield Borough Council website refers to the appearance of the tram as one of the main attractions at the festival, seemingly confirming its attendance. The tram will be displayed in Chesterfield’s Rykneld Square for one day only, on Saturday 4th May, between around 10:00am and 4:00pm. It will be joined by the Sweet Sisters, who will apparently be offering visitors ‘a dressing up day trip adventure’. Other attractions on the Saturday will include live music performances and an arts market with approximately fifty stalls. There will be a wide range of activities held over the five days of the event, but Chesterfield 8 is expected to return to Crich on the day it arrives, so that it does not have to spend the night outside.
The Tramway Museum Society and the Science Museum, London (who actually own the tram despite it being based at Crich) are to be applauded for co-operating with the local Council to make this loan a possibility, and hopefully the venture will be a great success for all involved.