Glastonbury Zombie Walk: The undead march through Somerset town

Central Somerset Gazette reporter Laura Linham writes about Sunday's Glastonbury Zombie Walk experience...

Laugh? I could have died. I’m not entirely sure what was the funniest part of Sunday afternoon’s zombie walk in Glastonbury High Street – the unfortunate traffic warden getting ‘attacked’ by the undead groaning ‘unpaid parking fiiiiiiiiines’, a group of zombies pressing themselves and a rubber brain up against the window of Earthfare, beneath a sign that said ‘natural, organic, ethical, ecological’, or an electric guitar-dragging zombie being chased by more zombies moaning Van Halen tuuuuuunnes.

I was expecting a big turn-out of zombies, but what I wasn’t expecting was the crowds of people who lined the pavements to watch the lurching, groaning procession of the dead and damned making their way up the High Street.

The costumes were every bit as imaginative as you’d expect from a town that throws its heart and soul into everything it does.

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There were zombie fairies, undead pirates, newly-risen brides, there was a zombie traffic warden, a zombie nurse, an undead rock star and possibly the least politically correct zombie I’ve ever seen in my life.

There was even a community-spirited zombie who litter-picked his way from Tor Leisure Centre to the High Street and back down Benedict Street.

As terrifying as some of the make-up was, the good-humour and camaraderie of the event meant that a number of children took part in the walk without a single tear or hint of nervousness.

The event was the first zombie walk ever held in the town, and a fund raiser for Marthacare, a charity set up in memory of Martha Mickshik, which funds a social worker to support the families of very ill children at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The horde started gathering in the afternoon at Tor Sport and Leisure centre, where face painting was available for a donation to the charity. The parade lurched, dragged and groaned its way up the High Street, with groups of the undead breaking off every now and then to press themselves against shop windows or ‘attack’ members of the public who had turned out to watch the spectacle.

They gathered for a photo call at the top of the High Street, before making their way back down to Tor Leisure.

At the bottom of the High Street they were given a round of applause by those watching the walk, and unlikely cries of “We love you, zombies!” came from one member of the public.

Back in the warmth of Tor Leisure, live music and a raffle helped to wrap up a great afternoon and evening, for a worthy cause.

Glastonbury beware – the zombies have vowed to return next year, on October 26.

GLASTONBURY ZOMBIE WALK - PICTURE SPECIAL

Photos: Glastonbury Zombie Walk 2012 - in pictures