VIDEO: Fernhurst Revels keep up traditions

Sunday dawned bright and stayed that way so that villagers and the hundreds of visitors could enjoy the age-old tradition of crowning the May Queen and the modern attractions of such stalls at Laser Quest and Nerf guns.

The procession started from the west side of the village with music and included last year’s May Queen Erin Haigh and her attendant Martha Shepherd, this year’s May Queen Jenny Melia, who was about to be crowned by the vicar, the Rev Nick Haigh, and her attendants Lucy Dummer, Izzy Lockley, Jasmine Brimacombe and Bella Early, as well as heralds, garland bearers pages and other courtiers.

When they arrived at the packed recreation ground, the ceremony was duly performed, before a magnificent fight between the dragon, Mary Foong and the queen’s champion, St George, Isabel Swan.

To celebrate, there was intricate maypole dancing by Fernhurst Primary School and a high-powered fancy dress competition won by a magnificent bunch of grapes, a fairy cake and an ice cream cone. Even the fairy cake’s mother got a special mention as a living beef wellington.

As the afternoon started with a bang, so it went on. The first arena event was the fun dog show, where the owners were unusually competitive and tactical in the musical sacks, won by the shortest-legged dog, a dachshund, with the longest-legged owner. Other classes included the waggiest tail, where the finalists, mainly spaniels, wagged their tails at the spectators with great enthusiasm.

In the other arena, a display of falconry delighted young and old as they flew near and far, in one case a bit too far but was recovered shortly afterwards.

Punch and Judy fought each other hard and noisily in front of an enthralled audience. Children’s races at the end of the day did not seem to exhaust the young but those running it were already pretty tired having been there since 8.30am putting the event into ‘go’ mode.

All around the ground, the stalls from Fernhurst clubs and individuals sold books and plants, smocked dresses, photos and cards, hair bows and henna painting.

Archery and a coconut shy along with skittles, football, tennis and cricket speed guns attracted all ages. You could jump on a bouncy castle or have your face painted, guess the extra ingredients in homemade bread or make your own jewellery.

Chairman Heather Bicknell was delighted with the day.

She said: “It has been a long day since we started putting up the marquees and marking out the arenas and there were some last minute problems and changes but there always are.

“Our small team all pull together and it works. There were a lot of happy people there for a long time.

“We hope to have raised a lot of money to distribute to those clubs and societies which need it. Thanks go to all those who work so hard before during and after clearing up, without them nothing would happen.”