Wallingford Bond-themed pancake race is licensed to thrill (From Herald Series)

Wallingford Bond-themed pancake race is licensed to thrill

10:00am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

PEOPLE turned out in fancy dress on a James Bond theme for Wallingford’s annual pancake race.

The Shrove Tuesday celebration is organised by John Houston, who runs South Moreton Boxing Club.

Mr Houston said: “We called this year’s event The Man with the Golden Frying Pan and there were lots of kids and adults dressed in tuxedos.

“Kids do one lap of about 350 metres, starting in the Market Place, before they head down St Mary’s Street and back round to Waitrose, and adults do laps for about 10 minutes.

“Waitrose gave us ready-made pancakes to sell while Rowse Honey provided the honey and we made £115 selling the pancakes.

“We were lucky with the weather and there must have been about 300 people in the crowd.”

The event raised money for the Footsteps Foundation supporting the Footsteps Centre in Dorchester, where children receive specialist physiotherapy.

Contestants could also raise funds for their own chosen charities.

Joe Laitt, 10, from Wallingford, a pupil at the town’s Fir Tree Junior School, skipped the James Bond theme and agreed to wear a pink tutu as his twin sister Molly, 10, was wearing a green one.

He said: “I was chuffed to bits to be one of the winners — I really enjoyed the race.”

Ollie Duffield, 23, from Wallingford, who works at the town’s KP Stationers, won a bottle of Champagne and a food hamper after coming first in the adult race.

Mr Duffield said: “I didn’t have time to put on fancy dress but sprinted round as quick as I could – I was quite far out in front.”