Sir, – What a wonderful day it was! After all the months of reports and rumours – and it is difficult to know which were which – about roads being closed and potential long hikes/rides to reach the route, about heavy handed TdF sponsors/organisers’ reps forbidding anything on the route that didn’t come within their remit and possibly removing it, however innocent, about road repairs that may or may not be finished and then, in the week leading up to the Grand Depart, about a very nasty weather front that looked set to blight the whole weekend, come the day it was all magnificent – even the weather.

We spent the day in Reeth where the atmosphere was joyfully celebratory.

The police and gendarmerie on their motor cycles waved cheerfully to the crowds as if it were their procession, the TdF riders were amazing even if they did pass through the village so quickly, the visitors were chatty and the catering establishments came out and provided al fresco refreshments.

Talking to the police with their mountain bikes, stationed in the village for the day, they told us they were thoroughly enjoying it and commented on the wonderful good-nature of the crowds.

So how does one commemorate such an event which is unlikely ever to occur in a place like Reeth again?

One can picture Granddad 50 years hence saying to his young grandchildren “I remember when the Tour de France came to Reeth” and getting the reply “Don’t be silly. You’re making it up.”

Well, hopefully, the Reeth Community Garden will still be there then and in it will be a wonderful sculpture by Michael Kusz, with help from local school children, called Re:Cycling, made from old bike parts but nevertheless a thing of great beauty.

This was commissioned by the Swaledale Festival as its contribution to commemorating the event; so much better than yet another concert which only those who were there would remember afterwards.

The reaction of almost everyone who came into the garden and saw it – even a reluctantly persuaded TV cameraman – was “Wow!”

Thank you to all involved in making the Grand Depart in North Yorkshire such a memorable day, and thank you to those at the Swaledale Festival for their vision in commemorating the Tour’s visit for everyone in such an original and community-spirited way.

J HALL Aldbrough St John.