News
Fête Day 2012
A sunny but very cold start, (after the first ground frost of the season), to this unusual Fête Day; making modern day history by being held for the first time on the first day of autumn in place of the usual first Saturday in July. The reason, you may recall, is because of the horrendous summer of constant rain, leading to the Rec being waterlogged back in July and the hastily arranged postponement. Today was more like a summer's day.
The Procession commenced from The Latchen a little after 12-30pm.There were no Bobbies in attendance, so a vigilante group of car owners stopped the traffic by blocking the roads with their vehicles - sorry to the local Cinderford bus who's timetable was disrupted!! There was no marching band either, so music was provided by Longhope Motor Services with their massive music system falling out of the back of their car, playing Rule Britannia as the walkers entered the Rec. Thanks guys!
Overall there was a fairly good attendance at the Fête, but obviously numbers were down somewhat due to other events going on at the same time, said Fête organiser Mike Casperson, such as hay-making at his equestrian centre. Many local businesses were represented such as Longhope Motor Services, The Forest Bakehouse, who are soon to open premises in Longhope baking many different breads, and the Forest of Dean Beekeepers were selling May Hill Honey produced at Dursley Cross. There was an exhibition by Whitminster Canine Activity Training Club and the man in charge of the kiddie's amusements, Bill Guy, introduced the stalls.
The prizes for the Walkers were: First Prize to Hope Brook School with their theme of the "Diamond Jubilee." Second place were the Brownies with the "Olympics" and joint third were Pippins Pre-School and Longhope Pre-School. The Carnival Queen was Chloe Williams, the King was Archie Eaton, and the Princess was Abigail Morrisey who she said was dressed as Princess Elizabeth before she became the Queen.
Pictures
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| Carnival Queen and Princess | Carnival King Archie | The Royal Carriage |
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| The Procession | Another Royal Carriage | An illegal roadblock! |
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| The Olympic Brownies | Whitminster Canine Training Club | The Winners - Hope Brook School |
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| Dean Forest Beekeepers | Longhope Youth Club Stall | Footie target practise |
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| Skittles | What? An empty beer tent? | Forest Bakehouse bread tasting |
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| Longhope Pre-School cakes | Young Toby missed it all | Tombola |
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| Hope Brook School stall | The Carousel | Time for a Cuppa? |
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| Bouncy Castle | Bill Guy keeping us all amused | Vets corner |
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| Longhope Motor Services display | Coconut Shy | Quite a good turn out |
A very special mention to the ladies of the WI, who worked really hard to make cups of tea from 9-30 in the morning through to 5-00pm, and baking delicious cakes beforehand. Even though there were fewer people through the gate, the ladies still made as much money as ever with a profit of over £320, which goes straight into the profits. Well done ladies.
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| The WI ladies | Some of their delicious cakes | The WI ladies pouring the tea |