Where do we start with the thanking everyone who helped make this year’s fete such a success?
We had a lovely day and I think all those that attended enjoyed themselves. The sun was out, but not too hot and many people either popped in for a quick wander round or stayed with us all day to enjoy the fabulous entertainment. All the stalls were raising money for our local community with the commercial ones (ice creams, bar and bouncy castles) all donating out of their takings for the day.
Our entertainment was provided by Holywell School’s choir; The Rock Choir; local theatrical group Upchurch Players, children’s entertainer The Jester; Ralph Liddell & barn dancing; The Syncopators Jazz Band; and Upchurch Brownies dancing the maypole.
We wanted to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1 and remember the locals who gave up their lives serving their country. A special thank you goes to Paul and Megan Boakes for the beautiful wooden poppies they made for us as well as framing the various posters we had for the day. They also lent us the memorial made for the village sign, displaying one poppy for everyone who lost their life. St. Mary’s Bell Ringers helped mark this event with their playing as we closed, Frank Osborne read a remembrance poem and Alan Vardy closed the day with The Last Post. Gerry Lewin has expressed his thanks for the generosity of people donating to the Royal British Legion.
We hope the stalls all had a successful day, it is lovely to see the support everyone gives to their fund raising activities and how much the day unites the village.
As with every year we’ve done this, the event is non-profit making for the committee and we therefore cannot hold the event without the financial support we receive from local businesses. We thank the following for all their help:
· Kent Trade Frames, Upchurch River Valley Golf Course, Gransden Construction Ltd, ATS Resurfacing Specialists, Kinloch & Sons, Hidsons Group Ltd, Ward Cllr Gerry Lewin, Ward Cllr John Wright and Upchurch Parish Council for their financial support.
· Kent Trade Frames, Upchurch River Valley Golf Course, Gransden Construction Ltd, ATS Resurfacing Specialists, Kinloch & Sons, Hidsons Group Ltd, Ward Cllr Gerry Lewin, Ward Cllr John Wright and Upchurch Parish Council for their financial support.
· Hidsons Group Ltd and The BarnYard for their donation of prizes.
· Jascom Electrical Contractors Ltd, Countrystyle, First Highways, M J Warner Landscaping, Upchurch Matters, Gabriel, Upchurch Cricket Club and Peter Boakes for the donation of various services.
· Upchurch Scouts for overseeing the parking on the Recreation Ground.
· Dave Neale & Alex Dollimore for providing the sound system and hosting the event to make sure we stay on track!
· The committee’s ‘other halves’ for their support and assistance on the day!
You may have heard that the committee is standing down this year to make room for some new blood and fresh ideas and we have had a few people express an interest in taking it on. We will work with them to secure the future of the fete as, from the feedback we receive, it is becoming a well loved annual event!
A big thank you goes to everyone that came along to support us, and more importantly the stalls and fund raisers.
