Worcestershire Freemasons have held a regatta in Worcester for the first time since before the pandemic.

The fundraising event took place at Worcester Rowing Club today (Sunday, July 17), with stalls, live music, street food and classic cars also keeping visitors entertained on Pitchcroft.

The regatta first took place in 2019 but Covid restrictions stopped organisers making it an annual event, until now.

Eight crews took part in races on the River Severn, with Oxford and Cambridge alumni battling it out in the first race of the day, which was won by Cambridge.

A race of a different kind was scheduled for later in the afternoon, with 3,000 yellow plastic ducks released on the river.

Worcestershire Freemasons raise millions for charity

Organiser David Davis, of Worcestershire Freemasons, said this year’s event was 50% bigger than it was in 2019.

“We’re raising money for the Masonic Charitable Foundation,” he said.

“This is one of many events. Each province gets a five-year charity festival and we’re looking to have raised £2.2 million when ours ends.

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“All funds go to a central pot, which supports every air ambulance in the country, every hospice in the country and lots of other charities.”

This year’s event is also the first time it has been opened up to members of the public. It was previously only for freemasons.

“We want to show people that we don’t just do things internally,” said Mr Davis.

“We reach out and help people, and we have fun.”