THE annual Monmouth Raft put on a magical show once again as the Hogwarts Express steamed downriver alongside a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a Viking ship, a fire engine and a crew of Wonder Women.

And taking time out from Brexit and the White House, even Boris Johnson and Donald Trump put on an ‘oar-some show’.

Fifty seven rafts made it to the line, with one overturning and spilling the whole eight-man crew into the drink at the rapids below Monmouth’s old railway bridge.

Hundreds turned out along the six-and-a-half mile course from Monmouth Rowing Club to Whitebrook on Sunday (September 1) to cheer the crews on in the 54th Monmouth and District Rotary Raft Race in aid of St David’s Hospice, with entries from as far away as Yorkshire.

And family and friends’ entry Henson’s Heroes from Woodcroft again cast their spell over the judges to take the best creatively-themed raft for the sixth year running with their Harry Potter-inspired Hogwarts Express, leaving from ‘Platform 9 3/4’.

Last year their realistic World War 1 tank, marking the centenary of the end of the conflict, scooped the pize, and previous craft to catch the eye have included Titanic, Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka, HMS Victory, the Space Shuttle, Noah’s Ark and a London bus.

They also won the prize for most cash raised and handed in on Sunday, with their £1,400 taking their total raised over the last 13 years to more than £16,000.

Crew member Vicky Henson, who retired as head teacher of Primrose Hill CofE Primary School in Lydney in July, dressed as Professor Sprout, while others on board included Harry himself, Dumbledore, Valdimort, Luna Lovegood and Hermione.

“We started doing the race in tribute to my father-in-law Mervyn Henson who died in 2007 and was looked after by St David’s, and we absolutely love it,” she said before launching out.

“We have a ‘half raft race’ party in March and look forward to the event all year, with two weekends set aside for making the raft, when we have a real laugh and get together. And the sun’s shining and it’s fantastic fun riding the rapids.

“This time we voted for Harry Potter with the local connection of JK Rowling, and we’re hoping we can make it six in a row with the Hogwarts Express.”

Landy Paddlers, crewed by leaders from 1st Tidenham and Sedbury Scouts, knew they were going to get wet so opted for a ‘bubble bath’ raft complete with 400 white balloons.

“It’s our third year and we’re hoping that ‘shower power’ will get us to the finish,” joked crew member Linda Sandison.

The Monmouth Free Plastic group took their campaign onto the water, in a raft buoyed by hundreds of discarded plastic bottles.

Crew member Dilly Bowes said: “If we stopped using so much plastic, it would make a real difference to climate change.

“I collected 1,500 bottles which would have gone into landfill and it’s great to be using them with a purpose today, and when we’ve finished, we’ll be recycling them all in an eco-friendly way.”

The Monnow Vale Hospital crew from Monmouth went ‘through the looking glass’ as Alice in Wonderland and Co.

“The ladies did it last year as nurses for the 70th anniversary of the NHS and stopped off for a picnic, so this time we’re going the whole hog as the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,” laughed crew member Steve Lewis.

Six dads of Trellech Primary schoolchildren donned Hawaiaain shirts to ride HMS Hopper – a raft floating on 26 space hoppers.

“We joked about doing it over a few drinks in the Lion pub and thought, stop talking about it, let’s do it,” said Mat Thomson. “Hopefully, the hoppers will make it light enough to carry over the rapids, and – fingers crossed – keep the raft afloat!”

Another raft cooked up over a few pints was crewed by Bream Bandits – dressed as highwaymen – from the village’s Rising Sun pub, while six St Arvans friends donned Wonder Women costumes, with Susie Baber saying: “The husbands did it two years ago and we’re just hoping their raft still floats.”

Other local rafts included two from event sponsors Mandarin Stone, with one crewed by Marcel Marceau mime artist lookalikes, and fellow Monmouth funders Siltbuster, alongside the Moo Canoe from Coleford’s Mount Olives Church, Chepstow and District Round Table’s Arms Race starring Donald and Boris, The Priory Care Home from Llandogo, Border Counties Vintage Club, Trellech’s Lion Inn, Mork Clay Shooting Club, the Whitebrook Wind-Up and Monmouth Day Nursery.

Monmouth business Westpoint Underfloor Heating took the mixed crew prize in one hour 18.06, just 37 seconds behind fastest boat, Farm Days of Newport, which was an all-women crew,

Fastest pub raft (1.27.45) was Monmouth’s Old Nags Head, 50 seconds ahead of fastest men’s crew Mighty Mandarin (1.28.35).

Raft race co-ordinator Norman Williams said: “Everything went really well and everyone enjoyed it. Some of the work and creativity that goes into the rafts is amazing, with the Hogwarts Express and South Wales Fire services fire engine particularly catching the eye.

“We’re hoping to make more than £20,000 which will be split 75 per cent St David’s and 25 per cent to other local good causes.”

David Evans described the scene on the tannoy as the rafts entered the water and finished, while Monmouth Canoe Club, Severn Area Rescue Association and St John’s Ambulance provided safety cover.

Crowds cheered on the rafts under Monmouth’s Wye and Redbrook Railway bridges to the finish at Whitebrook, where the Cullimore family had given permission to use their fields, and stalls, burgers, a hog roast, a bar and live music provided a festival atmosphere.

Full results at www.monmouthraftrace.com