Please email the Webmaster with details of any event you are
holding in the village
westletonpcweb@tiscali.co.uk
Winter in Westleton
Westleton Village Pond in January 2010
(Photo: Chris
Cardwell)
December in
Westleton was
really busy, with numerous social events in the Village Hall and a
well attended Carol Service at St Peters.
January the 1st saw our previously postponed Bonfire and
Fireworks, which attracted hundreds of visitors from far and wide.
It was a great success.
It is now a few months since we held our 16th Barrel Fair with
its many associated activities, (see below
for a report) produced a 4 day Wildflower Festival and
Village Exhibition, had a guided tour of St Peters Church, held the
screening of a free film on Westleton Green, viewed historic films
and provided educational events in the Village and, last but
not least, experienced the grand opening of new toilet and
baby changing facilities in the Village Hall.
We are now catching our breath and gearing up for a further
range of educational and social activities.
New events....
Do you
enjoy knitting, stitching or quilting?
If so why not join the Westleton Quilters who
meet informally in the Village Hall on Friday afternoons. For more
information see their entry on our Groups & Clubs page.
Advance
notice....
The Eastern Angles Theatre
Group will be performing "The Long Way Home" in the Village
Hall on Tuesday 11th May. More details to follow.
Events at the White Horse Inn during
March....
14th - Mothering Sunday
16th - Darts Knock-Out
17th - St Patrick's Day
23rd -
Bingo!
===============================================================
Westleton Wild Flower Festival
& Village Exhibition
This year's exhibition will be held in Westleton
Village Hall from Friday 30th July to Monday
2nd August 2010.
There will be a plant and produce
stall and we would welcome donations of items to sell.
Plants can be left with;
Ann Bebbington, The Haven, Blythburgh Road, Westleton
(01728 648943) or they can be left at the Hall during the
exhibition.
===========================================
A Report on the 2009 Barrel
Fair
The festivities began
on Wednesday 12th August with the increasingly popular
Music Quiz hosted, in the White Horse,
by Doc Cox and Jilly. 78 people took part and after a hard and well
fought contest our local musicians prevailed and were the winners
by a significant margin. Doc Cox generously donated all the funds
raised to the Barrel Fair.
On Thursday the screening, on Westleton Green, of the classic
“39 Steps” proved very popular. The
evening was warm and about 100 people enjoyed the open air
film.
The favourable weather persisted and Saturday evening began with a
Children’s Disco hosted by our own DJ,
Damian Evans. This was followed by the first round of “Westletons
Got Talent”. The event proved very popular with 10 contestants of
varying ages taking part. They were Hester Clutterbuck, Tom
Williams, Ellie Dutton, Harry Jones, Gin G. (Cracknell), Julia
Jones, Hannah Curtis, Ian Eames-Bayton, Michael Coombes and Shannon
Cuthill plus a spoof act that the judges could be rude to. The acts
ranged from dancing to an Elvis singer.
Comparing the evenings events were Simon Maier and Damian Evans
and the judges were Jim Homersham, Arlette Smith and Colin Fisher.
After eliminating all but 3 to go into the next round the judges’
decision was that Hannah Curtis was
the Winner and she took home the coveted Gold Star
Trophy.
Hannah
Curtis
Winner of Westletons Got Talent 2009
We hope to stage this event again next year but with 2
categories i.e. younger acts (perhaps up to 15 years of age)
followed by the adults. The evening continued with live music from
The Travelling Nobodies, Westletons very own band.
The Barrel Fair opened at 11.00 a.m.
on Sunday the 16th hosting many new stall holders and various food
outlets including a hog roast, curry, roast dinners, pancakes and,
of course, the tea tent.
The Official opening took place at midday with special guest Rob
Dunger, Radio Suffolk presenter, Jim Homersham, Town Crier and Jim
and Mollie Shaw, Maid and Squire taking the stage to open the
events.
Jim & Mollie Shaw, Rob Dunger & Town Crier
Barrel Fair 2009
This was followed by the Docwra/Holmes challenge, newly
named this year in honour of Jack Docwra who sadly died just prior
to the Barrel Fair and who had taken part in the early races in the
1950’s, held between the Crown and The White Horse. This was an
eagerly awaited event with supporters for both teams encouraging
contestants with pom poms and much cheering. The race was so close
that it was declared a tie and the trophy will be held by each team
for 6 months.
Teams from The Crown & The White Horse
Joint Winners Docwra/Holmes Trophy 2009
Children’s and adults running races and sack races followed as did
the heats for the final Barrel Races. The winner of the Westleton
Men’s Barrel Race Final was, once again, Jonathan Alexander and the
Westleton Women’s Barrel Race Final winner was Sandra Howarth. The
Men’s Allcomers Barrel Race Final was won by Scott Devereux and the
Women’s Allcomers Barrel Race Final by Sarah Willis (please forgive
me if this name is not correct but cannot read my own writing!) who
were duly presented with their well earned trophies by Rob
Dunger.
If anything the day was perhaps a little too warm and ice creams
and cold drinks were in great demand.
The Barrel Fair Committee were delighted to welcome new stalls and
Radio Suffolk on the day and thank them warmly for their support.
The Committee are also very grateful for all the help from
Villagers in setting up and taking down, we know that without this
support the day could not happen.
Initial figures show a profit in excess of £4,000 which will be
used to further enhance the village.
Our next Barrel Fair will be on Sunday 15th August 2010, when
we hope to welcome you all back.
Please feel free to send any comments or questions via our
website.
Arlette
Smith
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A Date for your diary
Do make a note
- Sunday 15th August 2010 will be
the date of the 17th Barrel Fair.
An event not to be missed!