PREPARATIONS for Stratford Rotary’s third Shakespeare Charity Duck Race, were going swimmingly until disaster struck when the club’s lucky mascot Bill went AWOL.
Bill, who has led the Duck Race the last two years, was last seen close to the River Avon, but despite hunting high and low, race organisers have not been able to pin him down.
They are now appealing to the town’s younger residents to help locate him.
In a bid to track him down, race organisers are organising a ‘Where’s Bill?’ hunt on Saturday August 11 as they’ve been tipped off by an informant that he will be between the Clopton Bridge and the RSC theatre and within 50 metres of the river on both banks.
Rotarians will be selling tickets that day, opposite the Encore and may be able to give out a clue to his whereabouts should anyone need one.
When Bill is spotted, children are asked to post a picture of him on the Rotary Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StratfordRotaryClub. Everyone who posts a photo will be entered into a prize draw to win free tickets to Stratford Butterfly Farm.
Tickets are now on sale for the Duck Race, which raises thousands of pounds for The Shakespeare Hospice Children and Young People’s Service.
Following the success of the races over last two years, Stratford Rotary plans to launch 2,500 rubber ducks from Lucy’s Mill Weir on Saturday August 25.
As in previous years, to enter, people are asked to pay £2 per duck – they will then be allocated a number which co-ordinates with a numbered duck. This can be done on-line at mydonate.bt.com/events/shakespeareduckrace/ or tickets can be bought at Rohan, the outdoor and travel clothing shop at 38 Sheep Street. They will also be available on race day at
at Lucy’s Mill Weir from 1pm.
There will be a cash prize of £150 for the winning duck, £100 for the second duck to cross the finish line and £50 for the third winning duck.
There will also be a corporate Duck Race and companies can buy Designer Ducks, available in a range of ‘occupational ducks’, such as a chef duck, waiter and waitress duck and hairdresser duck. This year, companies can also buy ‘giant’ ducks, the same size as Bill, for £100. Visit mydonate.bt.com/events/shakespearedesignerducks for further details.
Visit www.facebook.com/StratfordRotaryClub to follow the race.
