This weekend was supposed to see one of the biggest events of the Harrogate district calendar — the Knaresborough bed race.

Sadly, covid forced the event’s cancellation for the second year running.

So here’s a look back at how it all started in 1966, courtesy of some photos by Knaresborough amateur photographer, the late Bill Hardacre, whose son Roy sent them.

The puppeteer Harry Corbett, who created children’s TV character Sooty, fired the gun to start the race.

Acker Bilk, the jazz musician, started the 1967 race. Does anyone know how they were tempted to Knaresborough?

Do you recognise any of the people seen in the photos, or have favourite memories of the madcap event that grew so big?

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It has been announced today that the 2021 Bed Race has had to be cancelled due to the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Knaresborough Lions Club said it was a decision they didn’t want to make but the health and safety of everyone involved had to come first.

The event has become an institution for the town, welcoming around 30,000 people each year to enjoy the fun and laughter of the day.

People from across the town get involved through volunteering at the event, dressing up or making one of the famous beds.

This is the second year in a row the Bed Race has been cancelled due to covid.

The Bed Race encouraged crowds in their thousands. Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography

The committee’s chairman Kevin Lloyd said the day takes four months to organise and he assures the public that the event will return when it can. He said:

“We said we were looking for a clear horizon, but there is just so much uncertainty around. This is really breaking all our hearts, but we have a responsibility to put first the health and safety of everyone involved.

The Lions said they looked at later dates but were concerned this would clash with other activities and there would still be no certainty regulations will have changed.

The hope is the group can organise a similar virtual event as 2020.

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Mr Lloyd added:

“But Bed Race will not be forgotten. It has become an institution. The people of Knaresborough will not give it up and for the Lions it will remain in our hearts.”

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race has been running since 1966 and raises significant amounts for local charities and organisations.

As well as the 30,000 visitors, there are 300 volunteers who organise the event and and another 630 people becoming bed riders.

The event is known around the world inspiring other Bed Races in the USA, Australia, South Africa and Europe.

This year’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race will set off this weekend as a virtual, online event for the first time in its history.

Knaresborough Lions, the organisers, have set up a plan for the whole day on Saturday with treasure hunts and virtual parties as well as the race.

With coronavirus stopping the usual festivities, people have been invited to send in their own videos where they pretend to push their own beds.

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The organisers will edit together all of the videos and stream them online by Stray FM at 3pm.

Not only the Knaresborough Lions but numerous other charities are missing out on donations and publicity because of the changes to Bed Race this year.

Here is the plan for the day:

• 10am: Quiz and Treasure Hunt on the Bed Race Facebook page.
• 12pm: Virtual Balloon Race ends.
• 1pm Town Crier followed by Virtual Parade streamed online by Stray FM.
• 2.40pm: Warm up for Bed Race streamed online.
• 2.55pm: Mayor of Knaresborough announces the race online on Stray FM.
• 3pm: Virtual Race streamed online by Stray FM
• 3.15pm: Party at home: Clubbercise with Gilly to get you up and active.
• 4pm: Announcement of prize winners
• 4.30pm: Bed Race Finale with music.

How to send in your videos

Videos need to be between 20 seconds to 60 seconds long. Get behind a bed headboard and pretend to push in a creative way.

Knaresborough Lions has asked people to position themselves in front of a single-colour background, preferably green or blue, and film in landscape.

When you have recorded your video then send them into the Knaresborough Lions by clicking or tapping here.