VISITING Chesterford Research Park on Friday (November 19), you would be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled onto the set of the latest remake of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, rather than the hub of innovative research and development that is Chesterford Research Park.

Sheriff Grant Pavitt, one of the maintenance team at Chesterford, led the charge having been the inspiration for the choice of theme this year.

Grant is a member of the Native American and Cavalry League, a non-profit making group founded 15 years ago who carry out re-enactments of the American Civil War Cavalry and Native American Indian Wars period.

The league generously supplied some of the costumes for the day as well as saddles, armory and other props ensuring the Park remained true to theme throughout.

The rest of the park team, dressed in an assortment of guises from cowgirl and cattle rancher to Native American also entered into the spirit of the day.

Collection buckets were out in abundance with everyone entering or leaving the park being asked to donate what they could.

The restaurant team also joined in serving a ‘cowboy’ themed menu including dishes such as ‘Cowboy bean soup’, ‘Texas chilli glazed sausages’ and ‘Mississippi mud pie’.

The proceeds from a Western themed quiz held in the restaurant during lunch, a raffle and cup cake sale also boosted the total amount raised during the course of the day.

Park manager Katherine Maguire said: “Our park team have proven time and again that they love any excuse to get dressed up, especially for charity.

“We enjoy great team spirit here at Chesterford and it shines through on these occasions particularly. Of course we couldn’t do any of this without the support of our park tenants and visitors who once again have given very generously this year.”

Team members from security, catering, maintenance and the fitness centre all took part and the expectation is that over �700 will be raised in total once the final count is made.