Fête

The Bramley Village Fete, Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Bramley Fete celebrates its 53rd incarnation this year – no longer a spring chicken but far from a cooked goose! In fact the Fete Committee are feeling rejuvenated as the first signs of spring appear and are certainly not thinking of retiring.

The festivities will be held as usual on Gosden Common, starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, with what is now becoming the traditional opening procession of assorted and innovatively decorated vehicles setting off from the old Railway Station half an hour earlier. TV and film actress Diane Keen, a star of the BBC’s daytime TV soap “Doctors”, will be on hand to open the fete.

As ever, we’ll be hoping for the same gorgeous weather that blessed last year’s event, and a lot of thought and energy has already gone into planning what we believe will be a better-than-ever programme of family entertainment.

The highlight in the main arena will be a spectacular sheepdog display. There will be the usual great mix of commercial and non-commercial stalls offering games, competitions, gifts, art, crafts, books, plants, face painting etc. There will be fairground fun, with slides, Punch and Judy, human fruit machine, kick-a-goal etc, plus, for the first time at the fete, an eight-metre climbing wall to challenge the nerve and grip of those daring enough to take it on.

The Tug-of-War will as always be a major drawing card of the afternoon. Will anyone be able to bring down the mighty men of the Wheatsheaf? On a less frenetic level, The Bramley Players will be running a storytelling booth and the kids’ farm will again be open for youngsters to see and stroke farmyard animals.

The inner man will be well catered for by the regular bangers and burgers barbecue and tea, cakes and soft drinks. Local hostelries such as Champan Tandoori, The Jade Inn and Hollyhocks Wine Bar and Bistro are also being offered the chance to set up their own stalls to display their wares. To wash down all that richesse, you can head for the beer, wine and Pimms tents for a breather.

The fete will round off as usual with announcement of who has won the big prizes in our super Grand Draw. Top prizes this year include a day on the set of “Doctors” to watch filming and meet the stars, tickets for an edition of “Top Gear”, a laptop computer and a flight in a glider. Tickets will be on sale ahead of the fete and on the day, so don’t miss out.

It’s all happening on Sunday, May 30 from 12.30 to 4.30. Be there!