by Sarah Shaffi

sshaffi@thekmgroup.co.uk

Thousands of people enjoyed a taste of Victorian life at the 32nd annual Dickens Festival.

The sun was shining throughout the three-day festival, which started on Friday with a grand parade led by the Mayor of Medway, Cllr David Brake, and his mayoress wife Carmita, who both dressed in Victorian costume for the occasion. All of Dickens’ best-loved characters turned up over the weekend, including Scrooge, Fagin and a couple of Miss Havishams, one of whom met visitors while wandering around on stilts.

New sections for this year’s festival in Rochester included a re-enactment of a scene from The Pickwick Papers and craft workshops by children’s entertainers Ticklish Allsorts.

Youngsters from dance group Dance Alley performed Food, Glorious Food from the musical Oliver! at the festival on Friday and crowds were also entertained by live band Naval Packet, who play Victorian nautical music.

There was also a funfair and stalls in Rochester Castle Gardens, cookery demonstrations and workshops for children to take part in and paddle steamer cruises on the River Medway.

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community services, said: “Charles Dickens is a national legend and his connections

with Medway are well documented.

“Every year we strive to make the Dickens Festival an enjoyable experience, and 2010 is no different.”

Rochester was not the only place looking back on Victorian life at the weekend.

On Saturday, the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham hosted Soldiers of the Queen: Life in Victoria’s Army.

The event included re-enactments of life in the Victorian army, displays of equipment, lectures and activities for children.

For more pictures see today's (Monday) Medway Messenger.