Matlock raft race volunteers step back from annual event over abuse

Volunteer responders have stepped back from marshalling an annual Boxing Day raft race in Derbyshire over abuse concerns.

The Matlock Bath charity race, dating back to 1961, sees rafters race along the River Derwent in custom-built vessels to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

This year, Derbyshire 4×4 Response – which have volunteered at the event for several years – have withdrawn most of their volunteers, citing concerns about abuse from spectators in 2024.

Organisers say the 4×4 responders had been a “brilliant” support and added there was no concern that the event could be cancelled.

During the race, rafters were often pelted with bags of flour and eggs during the spectacle but in recent years, the organisers have urged the public not to do so.

The Environment Agency previously appealed for spectators to “spare a thought for the local environment” by not throwing items at the racers and into the river.

But some volunteer marshals from the 4×4 team in Derbyshire said they faced backlash when they asked some people to stop in 2024.

The chairman of Derbyshire 4×4 Responders Mike Whittingham said: “Last year, several of our responders came back and said they’d had quite a lot of aggression and threatening behaviour.

“We’ve got a duty of care to our responders and volunteers.”

He attributed poor behaviour to a small group of “younger” spectators, adding the event was a largely peaceful “family event”.

“It’s a great day. The event goes really well and the rafts are such a laugh so it would be a shame lose it,” he added.

However, the organisers said the event was not at risk of being axed.

The organising committee’s secretary Terry Radford said he was aware of instances of verbal abuse towards marshals in 2024 but said it had not been a longstanding issue.

He added marshals had been asked to avoid challenging spectators as they had no enforcement power.

Mr Radford said: “We still get some people throwing things because they think it’s their right, but it has improved over the years.

“In the past the Derbyshire 4×4 Responders have been a brilliant asset to have.

“They always say there will be a few of them on call.”

As for finding other volunteers to help out on the day, Mr Radford said it was a struggle every year but people “always” came forward.

“We’re not concerned. The only thing that will cancel the event is the weather,” he said.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: “There will be a policing presence at the event, and if anyone has any concerns they are encouraged to speak to an officer.”