Figheldean Summer Fayre was instigated in 1991, as part of a larger fund raising operation to help build a new village hall due to our old parish hall becoming no longer viable to repair.

Trevor Woodbridge

In the early years the Fayre was supported strongly by local army regiments, DERA and JSPC at Netheravon.

They supplied us with tents, tables, parachute jumps, helicopters, tanks, dog handling displays etc., and we will always be grateful for their commitment.

Attracting friends

As the years moved on, we brought in local acts, and bands and in 1999 we introduced a "Friends of Figheldean Fayre" scheme, by which more villagers could become involved by supporting us with, what is effectively, start-up money. (We have always been self -financing since day one.)

Morris dancers

This proved so successful that we were able to be a little more adventurous with our entertainment which, in turn, gave us the opportunity to capitalise on a quality printed programme, as the acts we now employ are the top in their field.

The advertising revenue from the part-colour programme all helps towards our costs.

Free entry

Queens of the Fayre

Throughout all these changes, the Fayre Committee have been unanimous in keeping to “Free entrance” and “Free parking” as the general feeling is that villagers should not have to pay, after years of hard work raising funds for the hall.

At the Millennium, the Fayre supplied every household in the village (which includes Ablington), with an inscribed celebrity mug and also introduced a pre-Fayre supper/dance.

10th anniversary

10th Anniversary Jousting

On our 10th anniversary, we brought in a full jousting competition and battle, which drew in around 4000 visitors - probably the only place in the UK where you could see such top class entertainment free!!

We continue to employ high class entertainment (as well as many varied activities in our new hall) and everything else that you would associate with a country fayre e.g. veteran and vintage cars, vintage tractors, innumerable children's rides and stalls, archery, barbecue, beer tent, and teas.

A reflection of Figheldean's manhood?!

We also run an under-11 football tournament throughout the day, which was introduced in 1996 in memory of a well loved villager and sponsored by his wife.

This year I have received requests for aid from several other village causes. Our average crowd seems to have settled to between 2/3000 people, which is pretty good for a village of roughly 500 souls.

Trevor Woodbridge

Click here to see our gallery of images from the Figheldean Village Fayre 2003.