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Crow's Hall Country
Fayre |
This year's Fayre was on Sunday 16 May 2010 from 1
pm to
6pm
and this was the poster:
Next year's Fayre is on Sunday 15 May 2011 from 1 pm
to 6pm
Location:
Crow's Hall, Debenham, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6NG
A beautiful venue with lots of
attractions for all the family
!
Admission prices in 2011 will be £2 each for adults
and under 16 free. An extra £1 is charged if you want to look
around the garden.
Report on this year's
Fayre
(Published in the
Debenham Parish Magazine, June 2010)
“What a fabulous country fayre!”
“It was a taste of rural England which many countries would
envy.”
Blessed by good weather, a good time was had by all who came to the
second Crow’s Hall Country Fayre in the splendid surroundings near
Debenham. Over 60 craft stalls in the Tudor Barn and grain store
gave the estimated 2,500 visitors plenty to look at and buy, when
they weren’t looking at the craft demonstrations and entertainments
outside.
For children there was a traditional Punch and Judy show, races to
enter and many games and craft activities. Children from Debenham
and Helmingham schools entertained adults with races, maypole and
country dancing. Any country show should have animals: this year
there was a Suffolk Punch and her foal, the Stour Valley Beagles,
some llamas and a couple of horses. Unfortunately the Western Horse
Riding Display had to be cancelled because one of the horses had
suffered an injury. Farrier Steve Taylor captivated crowds as he
made new shoes for the horses and fitted them.
The competitions this year included 41 separate classes, covering
poetry, photography, horticulture and crafts. There were lots of
entries from both adults and children, the winners receiving a
rather splendid Crow’s Hall mug as a memento.
Appetites were satisfied amply by the WI tea and cake tent, Aspall
Cyder’s bar, cakes from all around the benefice (if you could find
the stall lurking in a dark corner), Dragoman’s barbeque and ice
cream and homemade lemonade from the Guides.
Musical tastes were catered for by live music from local artists in
the barn, the Salvation Army band from Stowmarket and the East
Suffolk Morris Men.
Elsewhere there was a steam traction engine from Kenton, the Quoits
Ipswich Singles Cup Competition, Crow’s Hall garden, three plant
stalls, Simon Pink and his Trebuchet and Peter Carter’s display of
local historic photographs.
The event raised over £5,000 for the Debenham and Helmingham group
of Anglican churches and St John Ambulance. Once again we thank
Caroline Spurrier for letting us use her garden, sheds and pets;
the 1st Debenham Scouts for efficiently directing traffic; Fiona
Reid for all her hard work in organising craft stalls and
exhibitors; various volunteers for manning the entrance, cleaning
toilets, organising the draw, baking cakes, organising
competitions, collecting tables and chairs... apologies if I’ve
left anyone out—all your hard work was much
appreciated!
The Fayre was in aid of the
Debenham & Helmingham Benefice Churches and St John Ambulance,
raising £800 for each church.
For a list of exhibitors look at the
Information for Exhibitors
page.
For the timetable, a site plan and location of activities look at
the
What's Happening
page.
Last year's Fayre
The first Crow's Hall Country Fayre was held on Sunday 17 May
2009, from 1 to 6pm. Click here to read a report of the 2009 fayre
(published in Debenham Parish Magazine).
Over £3,000 was
raised for the Debenham & Helmingham Benefice Churches and an
additional charity, St John Ambulance. An estimated 1,800 visitors
attended.
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