Flying Man Festival at Pocklington (From York Press)

Flying Man Festival at Pocklington

8:44am Saturday 26th May 2012 in East Yorkshire news By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

LOCAL daredevils are set to abseil down an East Yorkshire church this weekend as part of an annual town festival celebrating the actions of a travelling stuntman.

Originally started as a fundraising event for the 16th-century, the Pocklington Flying Man Festival, now in its eighth year, takes its name in memory of showman Thomas Pelling, who fell to his death while trying to “fly” from All Saint’s Church in 1733.

Funds raised go to the upkeep of one of Pocklington’s historical landmarks.

The three-day event began last night, with celebrations staged in Burnby Hall, which included a hog roast and performances by Woldgate College Choir, led by Sam Dunkley, and performances from The Woldgate Wildcats – majorettes and cheerleaders from Woldgate College.

There will be hot-air balloons taking to the sky today and festival attendees have the opportunity to sign up to abseil down the church tower between 10am and 4pm.

The event will continue today and tomorrow and will be centred around All Saints’ Church, which will be turned into the Flying Man café for the weekend.

There will be an amusements and an exhibition of photographs by Pocklington Camera Club and a history society exhibition.

Tomorrow will see tours of the church take place from 11am till 3pm.

The airshow display will also place tomorrow from 2pm when there will also be a number of local charity stalls, model displays and art exhibitions and a birds of prey display by Minster Falconry.

•A mother and daughter from Pocklington are planning to abseil the Humber Bridge to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Emily May Wass didn’t hesitate to when asked by her mother, Diane Wass, to take part and will mark her 19th birthday with the challenge tomorrow.

To sponsor the pair, go to their fundraising page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Wass.