On a day when rain threatened but failed to materialise a surprisingly large number of people attended the event. That included familiar organisers from distant past fetes like Peter Boakes at the Horticultural Society tent, Don Diffey at ‘Bowling for the Pig,’ Mary Barden at the Women’s Institute tent and Jan Lacy at Uplift.
Activities were varied like ‘Beat the Goalie’ with an almost continuous flow of Upchurch Colt’s FC players lining up in their football club kit to shoot into the goal with amazing regularity. Toss a bail of straw, bowling for the Pig, a climbing wall and a coconut shy kept everyone occupied while visitors placed in the stocks had to suffer wet sponges thrown at them which created amusement for onlookers.
While Mickey the Magician from Sittingbourne entertained children with his fast talking, a range of tricks and an assortment of balloons made into various animals, maypole dancing by the guides and brownies, revived from early Upchurch fetes, added tradition to the event.
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Pictures courtesy of David Wood. |
A display of birds of prey run by the Sky Bird of Prey Display Team created great interest as falcons periodically circled the Paddock and swooped down onto gloved hands, between the legs or seated lines of shocked looking adults while organiser Paul gave an informative running commentary. Owls were also used to follow instructions with the encouragement of meat. A demonstration of how to accurately use a hose pipe by the fire brigade also took place.
As Dave Neale and Alex Dollimore kept everyone informed of events on the sound system, vocal entertainment played a big part which began with the Holywell School Choir and also included The Syncopators Jazz Band beating out an almost continuous assortment of traditional jazz numbers from the Brown Jug beer tent. The Lynx also performed music and the Rock Choir impressed with the quality of their singing as they periodically took stage on the upraised platform at the far end of the Paddock.
An assortment of fund raising events for different village organisations included guessing the number of balloons in a car overseen by Pat New, a sale of cakes in the Women’s Institute tent, cream teas were offered by St Mary’s PCC and a raffle to win various prizes took place in the Darby and Joan tent. Ray Kemsley and the Parents & Friends of Holywell School offered refreshments and a barbecue.
Members of the police were on hand to advise and answer questions while Louis Newbery manned the Upchurch Matters tent to take village information, get to know villagers, post live photos of the fete on the website and sell Upchurch history books.
The fete finally ended with a tug-of-war competition which The Crown pub won in the main arena leaving organiser Sara Tucker and the fete committee happy with a very successful day made possible by a host of hard working volunteers and sponsors.
As Dave Neale and Alex Dollimore kept everyone informed of events on the sound system, vocal entertainment played a big part which began with the Holywell School Choir and also included The Syncopators Jazz Band beating out an almost continuous assortment of traditional jazz numbers from the Brown Jug beer tent. The Lynx also performed music and the Rock Choir impressed with the quality of their singing as they periodically took stage on the upraised platform at the far end of the Paddock.
An assortment of fund raising events for different village organisations included guessing the number of balloons in a car overseen by Pat New, a sale of cakes in the Women’s Institute tent, cream teas were offered by St Mary’s PCC and a raffle to win various prizes took place in the Darby and Joan tent. Ray Kemsley and the Parents & Friends of Holywell School offered refreshments and a barbecue.
Members of the police were on hand to advise and answer questions while Louis Newbery manned the Upchurch Matters tent to take village information, get to know villagers, post live photos of the fete on the website and sell Upchurch history books.
The fete finally ended with a tug-of-war competition which The Crown pub won in the main arena leaving organiser Sara Tucker and the fete committee happy with a very successful day made possible by a host of hard working volunteers and sponsors.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
