Villages unite as fete hits the heights

A fete organised by three villages in the grounds of Kelham Hall on Saturday was attended by more than 800 people.

The event was organised by a committee from Averham, Kelham and Staythorpe, who were given £1,000 by RWE npower, the company behind the £640m redevelopment of Staythorpe Power Station and £1,000 by the parish council covering the three villages.

Newark and Sherwood District Council supported the event by allowing free use of the grounds of its Kelham Hall offices.

A central arena was set up for a programme that started with a performance by the choir from Averham Primary School.

It was followed by displays by Castle Grove Gymnastics Club, Kids and Co dancers, Shed Band musicians, Ice Diamonds cheerleaders and Jivefusion Workshop.

One of the organisers, parish councillor Mr Nigel Britton of Staythorpe, said a survey by ASKabout, a group that organises social events in the villages, had shown people wanted more community events.

He said they had organised a successful village picnic in the past but that they wanted to do something a bit bigger that would attract more people.

“It was a great event,” he said.

“People commented that it felt like a mini-county show. Kelham Hall was the perfect location.”

The group chairman, Mrs Lorraine Bousfield of Averham, said: “It looked everything that a village fete should be.

“There was a very good atmosphere and it was lovely that it attracted so many people.”

Village groups each took responsibility for a section of the fete and raised money for themselves.

The WI provided strawberry teas from the cricket pavilion; the churches ran the bar; traditional children’s games were provided by the parish magazine; the church bellringers and ASKabout ran a tombola and face painting and the school ran a sell-out cake stall.

A raffle raised £1,500 to be shared between the groups.