Fete accomplished!
4 August 2007
This year it was Sulham's turn to host the annual Tidmarsh and Sulham annual fete, and thanks to Henry Scutt and Mrs Iris Moon the afternoon of August 4 saw the beautiful formal gardens of Sulham House thronged with stalls, displays, and games. From things to buy, to things to play, to things to win; from traditional village stalwarts like the cake stall, tombola, coconut shy, and hoopla, to new twists on old favourites like a gourmet raffle and rowing machine challenge; and weird and wonderful new ideas like the cowpat predictor, milking cow, and bunny catapult (rabbit fanciers had best look away on that one!).
After such a disappointing summer this was a glorious sunny afternoon, which was great for the crowds but made it a long hot job for those manning the car park, and the heroic teams who coped with the never-ending demand for teas, drinks, Pimms, West Berkshire beer, and ice cream. Some of the children had the sensible idea of cooling their toes in the fountain pool, while the adults enjoyed not just a welcome break from the sun but some spectacular and colourful displays at the flower festival in the church.
For the first time this year there was a jazz picnic in the grounds of Sulham House on the night before the fete, and the fete itself had some great new ideas too. A programme of events was laid on throughout the afternoon, giving people more to see and enjoy, and more opportunities to stay and spend their money! The kids were captivated by the puppet show put on by Julia Sheppard and her puppeteers, and 20 children from Sonia Dugay's school of dancing strutted their stuff to great applause.
After that there was a fun dog show on the field behind the haha, with 20 assorted mutts (and owners!) competing in classes for handsomest dog, waggiest tail, and 'dog the judges would most like to take home'. The two highlights here were the sausage race (with sausages kindly donated by Greens of Pangbourne) and an agility course lent by Jenny Lovegrove. It was immense fun for all concerned, with some well-known local canine characters carrying off rosettes (as well as all the leftover sausages!).
All in all a fantastic afternoon and a wonderful community effort — here's to Tidmarsh for next year!
All proceeds went to the two Tidmarsh and Sulham churches, St Lawrence and St Nicholas, and the full list of those who helped is as follows:
| What | Who | Raised |
|---|---|---|
| Adult raffle | The Woodward and Walker families | 245 |
| Bar | George and Gillian Davidson | 225 |
| Beat the goalie/bunny catapult | Matthew Sheppard and Di | 32 |
| Book stall | Ann Robertson | 81 |
| Bottle stall | The Dennis family | 397 |
| Bowls | The Willett family | 63 |
| Cakes | Meg and Mike Orr, Wendy Cheer, Heather and Ken | 443 |
| Car parking | Martin Ross, John Alderton, Patrick Puxley, Chris Alderton, David Boyland | 294 |
| Coconut shy | John Harland and Jane Staples | 143 |
| Cowpat predictor | The Scutt family | 56 |
| Dog show | Lynn and Simon Court | 24 |
| Face painting/chocolate fountain | Frances' granddaughter | 56 |
| Golf game | Rebecca Sheppard | 23 |
| Gourmet raffle | Rosemary Thomas | 76 |
| Guess the birthday | Laura Powell | 13 |
| Hoopla | Jon and Annette Chishick | 90 |
| Humpty Dumpty | Richard Thomas | 10 |
| Ice cream | Ella Ross, with ice cream donated by the Nock family | 103 |
| Jewellery stall | Sandy Ebdon-Jackson | 15 |
| Pedestrian entrance | The Kings plus Bob and Kate | 38 |
| Pick-a-straw | The Rowalls | 32 |
| Pimms | Jules Reynolds and Margaret Mysor | 397 |
| Plant and produce | Jennifer Nutt and Penny Norris | 161 |
| Rowing Machine | Liz Peplow and the team from Bradfield College | 49 |
| Teas | Pauline Ross, Gill Alderton, Sally Puxley, Marjorie, Helen, Cherry, Sarah, and Tess | 374 |
| Teddy bear stall | Karen Fountaine | 5 |
| Tombola | Celia and Wendy | 85 |
| Toys | Alison and Eleanor Boyland, Vanda | 103 |
| Treasure map | Mags Truscott and Steve Webb | 18 |
| White elephant | Frances Bosley and family | 104 |
| PA system and announcements | Dan Meyer | |
| GRAND TOTAL after expenses | £3,529 | |
The flower festival also raised £304.64 for the St Nicholas window fund. Thanks to Joyce Ayerst, Jean Harland, Dorothy Pickering, and everyone who contributed time or displays.
