Painted gorilla makes appearance in Tour of Britain launch

A cycling gorilla has appeared, seemingly without much warning, outside Rushlight Gallery in Reepham’s Market Place last week.
 

 
It has come to light that a special launch event was held outside the gallery to celebrate the return of the Tour of Britain to Broadland on Saturday 12 September.
 
Two baby GoGo Gorillas, painted in Tour-themed cycling jerseys by local artist Mik Richardson, were placed in the market places in Reepham and Aylsham, where they will remain until after the Tour passes through the towns.
 
The event was attended by Cllr Ken Leggett, chairman of Broadland District Council; Hilary Cox, Norfolk County Council’s champion of walking and cycling; Cllr Graham Everett, District Councillor for Reepham; Les Paterson, chairman of Reepham Town Council; Mathew Martin, chairman of Aylsham Town Council; and Mr Richardson.
 
Cllr Paterson said: “This event puts Reepham on the map. It helps the town because everyone comes out to watch.”
 
The eight-day cycle race, this year sponsored by Aviva, will speed through the district on its penultimate stage before finishing in London the following day.
 
Stage 7 will start at Fakenham Racecourse, and will wind through Reepham, Cawston and Aylsham, before heading past Norwich airport, through Hellesdon and into Norwich city, then through Wymondham, Attleborough and Thetford, before it passes into Suffolk, with the day’s stage finish in Ipswich.
 
There will be several great places to watch the Tour on the day, including Reepham Market Place and Cawston Village Hall.
 
Active Norfolk, Broadland District Council, local groups and retailers have a host of activities planned to ensure the cycling buzz created by the Tour helps get people fit and active – both in the weeks leading up to the event and on the day.
 
Broadland District Council is also running a window dressing competition for local businesses, with the prize of a marketing package worth more than £1,000.
 
The Tour of Britain 2012 route through Norfolk and Suffolk saw around 150,000 people line the roadside, and the 2011 and 2012 races brought a boost of more than £3 million to the economies of both counties, it is reported.
 
www.tourofbritainnorfolk.co.uk
 

Front row (l-r): Les Paterson, Reepham Town Council; artist Mik Richardson; and Hilary Cox, Norfolk County Council. Back row (l-r): Mathew Martin, Aylsham Town Council; Ken Leggett, Broadland District Council; and District Cllr Graham Everett

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