Despite the heavy rain storms that soaked the village at lunchtime and other events locally at the same day/time a good turn-out of village people and those who are connected to the village.
A crowd of about 200 filled the village hall and the grass area around it. That area was much impinged upon by the activities of Green Square but it didn't dampen the crowd or the activities on offer. That task was entrusted to mother nature, but even she couldn't managed more than the occasional comment of "Didn't it rain?".
We were offered many different stalls and tents for various activities, including several activities for the children and a face-painting stand offering beach themed pictures to be painted to your face. The bottle stall was also as fully stocked as normal and a wheel of fortune offering pork meals from our celebrated Buttle farm.
Inside the hall there were a selection of stalls offering several different ways for you to part with your money. There were some beautiful cakes on offer to take home with you and tea and cakes for you to eat there.
2018 is an important commemorative year and there are celebrations and exhibitions throughout the year to mark the centenary.
The village fete was this year set to follow in that theme and did so in great style.
The organisers had thought of everything, games that many hadn't played since childhood. I overheard many discussing the finer points of playing hopscotch when they were young girls. Even a middle aged portly gentleman who declinedwhen invited to show the particular move that he was trying to tell the younger members of the crowd all about.
There was a quite wonderful exhibition of pictures of the houses, scenes and people of the village from that time, all supported with anecdotal evidence and relevance to make a most informative and engaging exhibition.
There were 'sports' from the time outside on the grass. Tug-o-War, and old and well used skittle alley, unusually the balls were actually round but made up for such acuracy with skittles, some of which would only stand on their own if carefully placed on just the right knot on the wood of the alley floor.
There were afternoon teas in the hall or a beer tent outside for those who needed something just a little stronger.
I leave the most endearing part until last!
All refreshments and purchases were made in the currency of the time, pounds shillings and pence. Currency of that time could be purcased at the Bureau deChange using your newer pounds of today for a fistfull of coins of yesteryear. The old currency threw people, some of whom had never encountered such coinage, but most significantly even those who would once have been very familiar with a pocket full of pennies and shillings were finding it a little dificult to com to terms with old pennies.
Further information please call Laurie Waite on 01249 811076
Afternoon Teas
Afternoon Teas 2
Bureau de Change
She wants to go outside, in the rain
Hand made postcards
Juxtaposition - Rural stylee
The Haywain - Compton Bassett Stylee
Playing Hopscotch
Old style beer prices
World War 1 in Compton Bassett exhibition
The produce competition awaiting judging
Fairy Cakes - Awaiting the judges
Who is most interested in who?
Our Sufragettes
The tea rooms
Tug o War teams