New Year's Eve in Bideford

Every New Year's Eve, Bideford hosts a big street party. Thousands of people in fancy dress descend upon the town to welcome in the New Year. It is mainly a time of celebration but for some people it is a time of stress. Some people find themselves in difficulties from hours of over indulgence.

Bideford churches got involved in 2007/8 by setting up a support team working from early evening on December 31st 2007 through to 3.00 a.m. on New Year's Day. Our aim to pick up on some of those in various forms of need and help where we can, taking some of the strain from the emergency services and the police.

Well, New Year’s Eve 2007 arrived and at 6.00 p.m. the setup team arrived on Bideford Quay to assemble the new stall for the first time, and by street light too!  Against all odds the peculiar assortment of different lengths of steel piping began to take shape and soon there it was our completed set with electricity, pretty lights and running water.  The stand, a Gazebo and motorhome provided our base for the night.

Fronted by a stall offering Hot Soups and specially designed Fruit Cocktails, we had support volunteers in place and a covered seating area for people in need. It was not long before we began to find out what supplies I had forgotten to lay on. The event stewards brought us a couple of young people for whom the celebration was proving too much. “Duncan, do we have gloves, bowls and buckets?” “Err, no.” Ambulance service to the rescue… they supplied the equipment, we kept them supplied with coffee! 

We cannot claim to have had a busy night, customer wise, but we were able to provide assistance to quite a few people with a whole assortment of needs. By the time we came to shut down at 3.00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, a veritable army of 40 volunteers had applied their talents and the decision to do it again had been made. It was a good thing to do. We had learned a lot about how we could do it better next time and yes, we will consider the request from an “official” to provide a similar service at other events.

Our thanks to all the people who gave their time and prayer. Thanks too for the churches and commercial organisations who supported us with equipment and supplies.

Current Activity: We continue this event every New Year's Eve, now with support from Bideford Street Pastors.