theBythams
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and events : midsummer fair :
reports archive : august 2003 added 03/08/03 Reproduced from The Glenside News (August 2003) ... " Well, another year over, and going by the compliments, it seems everybody enjoyed themsleves. Thanks to everyone concerned for their donations and help. Without you, we could not possibly put it all together, and get bigger and better each year. Mind you, at various stages during the weeks leading up to the day, we did panic a bit! ... - It looked as if the Fun Fair would not be coming. After a few frantic phone calls, and a visit to Mr Edwards' yard in Careby the weekend before the fair, some of his lads pulled out the stops and managed to bring along some sideshows and rides. A lesson learnt there ... we last spoke with him in February and assumed that he had everything in control. Oh no, he didn't! - After much toing and froing with our 'friendly' quarry owner, our insurance company and Nick Perry (thanks for legal advice), we had to make 11th hour plans to resite the car park. Grateful thanks to Geoff Hix for bailing us out. - And then to cap it all, the use of St Martins field hinged on whether Chris Johnson and his motley crew (aka your Committee members) could move four cows and calves down to the Cricket pitch field on the Saturday. No doubt a few of you had a great laugh at our expense when one cow and calf went AWOL and we ended up spending a few hours scouring the countryside looking for them. Anyway, late afternoon, alls well that ends well, but it left us precious little time to get the rest of the village prepared. Yes, this year will go down as "The Year of the Cow" Just a summary, then of things that seem to go down well ... - The PA System (apart from the opening madrigal music!) - The Football Challenge ... thanks to Scott for organising it, congratulations to Mervyns team. - TaeKwondo ... thanks to Dave and the lads for a magnificent display. - As always, Trish's catering in the Village Hall. What would we do without her? - The magnificent response from everyone for the fund-raising stalls - Tombola, the Duck Race and Throwing the Dice for Gary and Jill's apartment holiday. Congratulations to Linda Bellairs on throwing 34 with about 10 minutes to spare! and things that we were disappointed with ... - The Encampment Group. Come back the 95th Rifles for next year, all is forgiven! - Tied to that, St Martin's field. Since it was so quiet down there, we felt particularly sorry for the ladies in the marquee from the Bourne Craft Association. A letter of apology is on its way. - Bourne Borderers. We have yet to find out why the Morris Dancers never turned up. - Ditto, the St Johns Ambulance Brigade, particularly when we needed then on the playing field. - We had a lot of hassle with the Dog Show this year. Mind you, the dogs were fine! We are wondering whether to bother next year. Got any views? - To cut down on costs, we changed the bus company. Disappointing to see them turn up so late, Geoff ended up ferrying some of the early birds into the village himself. Again, we'll be going back to our old friends and favourites. - And lastly parking on the roads. You all go to great lengths to move your cars on the day, we get up at an unearthly hour to put out the cones, and yet, again, we get visitors who pay no respect to our car parking signs. I know we made a concious decision this year to raise the parking fee to £2 with bus transfers, but I'm sure you will agree that in this day and age, a lot more is being charged per person for a splendid day out. Clamps next year, if we can get away with it! So, we have just about counted the pennies to decide what to do with them. Instead of going for another project, we have decided to revert to type, and decided to make the following donations ... £800 - Castle Bytham PCC £650 - Castle Bytham Village Hall £500 - The Bythams School £350 - The Scouts £250 - The OAPS Party £250 - Castle Bytham Youth Club £250 - The Glenside News £250 - for repairs to marquees £150 - The Little Bytham Guides £150 - The Little Bytham Brownies £20 - Marie's Bench This still leaves us with a tidy sum in the bank, and hopefully with 2 or 3 fundraising events to come before next Spring ... watch this space ... we can sink some money into things that will make things tick a bit better, and give you lots more variety and fun in the future. A few things to note, in no particular order ... - Back by popular demand, photos are now available from the Village shop - It was good to see Glyn Mould the woodcarver on the day and to take part in the brief hand-over of the Village Sign to Peter Cox on behalf of the Parish Council. - We have amassed a lot of material over the last couple of years, including the two marquees. If anyone can offer some secure and dry storage space for us to use, please, please step forward. Anyway, some new ideas for next year have been floating around, and some of us are already on the case, but right now your committee are putting their feet up and recharging their batteries. For how long, we havn't decided ... there seems to be rumours doing the rounds that this years fair was the last. Now I wonder who started that ... a drink on me if you can guess the culprit! For the moment, lets just note in our diaries that Midsummer Fair day falls on 20th June next year. Meanwhile, be lucky, and enjoy the rest of the summer!! " Ray Keiff |
  The Midsummer Fair website Links etc relating to the Report for August 2003  Castle Bytham Quarry ... "we had to make 11th hour plans to resite the car park" 
Bourne Borderers Morris Group ... "We have yet to find out why the Morris Dancers never turned up."  The 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles Renactment Group ... "Come back the 95th Rifles for next year, all is forgiven!"  St John Ambulance ... "We have yet to find out why the St John Ambulance never turned up." 
Castle Bytham Village Sign ... "It was good to see Glyn Mould the woodcarver on the day and to take part in the brief hand-over of the Village Sign to Peter Cox on behalf of the Parish Council." |