Compton Dando Fete 5 July 2008
A view from the PA Tent (Gazebo).
Well the wind blew and the Public Address (PA) tent fell down, as did several others. But we put them up again and again. And at 2:00 pm , prompt, the Rector, Clive Murrie, declared the Compton Dando Fete open and still it hadn't rained, despite the dire forecast.
Steve Rendell won the scarecrow competition - at least his scarecrow did, but because he was on duty on top of the church tower in a howling gale it was a close run thing!
The duck "race" was more a meander than a race because just after the fete opened the dam holding back the stream failed and there wasn't enough water to sweep the ducks down stream. A hasty rebuild provided just enough water later in the afternoon for a thrilling if somewhat slow race. And still it didn't rain!
As always the BBQ was the top money-spinner, but only after a frantic morning rush around all the grocers in the area to buy buns - whoops! However, the less than summer weather meant the Parish Hall teas did a roaring trade - well it was warm in there. And still it didn't rain!
Even though we saw little sun the fairground organ kept our spirits high and the swing boats meant some of the children rose even higher. Candyfloss was a new attraction - ever tried "flossing" in a gale? And at one stage the coconut shy seemed to be monopolised by testosterone fuelled fathers trying to out do each other. And still it didn't rain!
The Children's Olympics produced some fine competition. A small but very talented set of entries in the decorated cake competition produced a great result when they were raffled in the pub at the end of festivities. And still it didn't rain!
From Tractor rides to Tattoos, from Car parking to Cake Making, from Bric-a-brac to Balloons and from Guess the weight of cakes, sheep, produce, it was probably the biggest fete ever. And then it rained!
Never in the field of fete dismantling have so few achieved so much in such a short time. In one hour exactly all the gazebos were down, the field completely cleared and all the litter collected. And the pub was full.
The Raffle winners were, 1st Prize - 2 Thermae Spa Tickets- Mr and Mrs Brown from Longwell Green; 2nd Prize - 6 Bath Racecourse Tickets - Ms Boughey from Staple Hill Bristol; 3rd Prize - Lunch for 2 at Hunstrete House - Mr and Mrs Bidwell from Radstock.
Other winners were
Alice Prescott, Dan Carpenter, Nan Young, Becky Parker, Paula Ford, Mr and Mrs Wilkins, Mr and Mrs Parsons, Mrs Donn, Bobbie Roberts, Bunty Collett, Gary and Jenny Pearce, Frank and Dorothy Nicholl, Vivien Lee, Ben Charm, Mr Herchstrasser, Mr and Mrs Brown, Maddy Prescott, Mr and Mrs Richardson, Mr Edwards.
Thank you, everyone who helped. We all had a wonderful time and by the way the net profit was £2,800 that will be shared between the Parish Hall, The Church and The Community Association.
Report from Clive Howarth
