Welcome to the big event of the year… the 27th Annual Draycott-in-the-Moors Summer Fayre Weekend, which once again promises a full thirty-six hours of fun (with a little sleep thrown in in the middle…), taking place on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th July 2018.
Highlights
# Saturday day: NEW!! For the first time, there will be a huge car-boot sale on the front-field during this day.
# Saturday evening: ‘Saturday Night Live’ brings three bands, a disco, & beer festival, all under a huge marquee. Headlining is a seventeen-piece dance outfit…!
# Sunday daytime: St Margaret’s Summer Fayre from 11am-4pm – with the Historia Normannis re-enactment group (looking back to the days of Bad King John!), an extensive vintage car rally, entertainment in the marquee…. and lots lots more (for details, see further below)
Everything takes place around Ford’s Field, slap bang in the centre of the village (for sat-navs, it’s ST11 9AE); and it’s all free to children of school age.
Saturday Sales
In the past, a small car-boot sale event has been held during the main fayre on the Sunday – but it has proved so successful, it has been decided to give the car-boot event a day of its own. Starting at 9.30am, it’s hoped that we shall see dozens of stalls selling a wide variety of items. Pitch Fee only £5!
If you have stuff stored in your garage, why not apply for a spot? Maureen Winfield is in charge – email her for details.
Party on, on Saturday
For those that love to dance or just appreciate live music (and appetising food), you get your moment on Saturday evening (7th July), when the field’s large marquee will be put to good use. The night will have its food & drink organised by The Draycott Arms again (thanks Zara and Brayn!).
The line-up for the music is:
…the Woodstrings duo, performing songs by The Rolling Stones, Ocean Colour Scene, INXS, Stereophonics, The Strokes and more
….one of the bands returning from last year, Bear Withers who describe themselves as a “seamless blend of popular covers and bad jokes”!
… and a seventeen piece swing band, Hassell Street Jive Candy (pic above) who will really end the night on a dance-crazy high! Check out their videos for proof
… the compere & DJ will be Andy Bird.
You can’t beat that for a fun summer’s night entertainment, and all under-cover too. Price – £5 entry, kids under-17 get in free… To buy advance tickets, click here
Packed Sunday
And it’s up early on the Sunday (8th) for everyone if you want to get your money’s worth at the fayre, where gates open at 11am.
The first event is the ever-popular Dog Show at 11.30am, (If you think your dog has the makings of a winner, be sure to get to the fayre by 11am to register). This year, Diane Bostock and her team are going for an upgrade, with more classes and an even more professional approach. Entrance fee per dog is £2, and you can enter your dog for more than one class.
(See more details of the dog show classes at the bottom of this page).
From then on it’s fast & furious.
The main attraction is the previously-mentioned re-enactment group Historia Normannis. They’ve done some high-profile venues, including Kenilworth Castle. From exciting massed combat, knights displaying their prowess in tournaments, displays of archery, woodwork and metalworking, all to the singing and music of the court of the time, Historia Normannis presents the workings of 12th century life.
Their Norman Village is especially fascinating, with various crafts explaining the Norman way of life. The ‘village’ will be running all day.
One of the dozens of wonderful vintage vehicles in the car rally
The other big attraction is the long-established vintage vehicle rally, run by the evergreen Tom Sale, with over one hundred cars, motorcycles, lorries, coaches, machines, commercial vehicles and tractors. Every year, the rally alone brings in hundreds of visitors. Contact Tom if you’d like to take part.
Old favourites will be returning …. the Community Sports and Tug-of-War tournaments; Milner’s fun-fair; the ferret racing (with Malcolm Adlington); Anthony Hammond’s live & electric wood-carving; and Christopher’s Reptiles.
Kids will be enthralled by the Coverdale Puppets show, and by Mr Abracadabra (who performs traditional Punch & Judy and balloon-art also).
But there is always something new to see… in the paddock this year all afternoon, you’ll find the donkey rides. The Happy Donkey Company is a local business, and we welcome them for the first time to Draycott.
Staffordshire Fire Service were also eager to get involved, and will be sending along a fire-tender, and answering questions about their work. The organisation was particularly impressed that our fayre permits free entry to all school-age children, as good fire safety starts when children start to learn it as youngsters.
Really fascinating for history enthusiasts this year though will be a remarkable and special display run by Levison Wood, the chairperson of our local district history society. To remember one hundred years since the end of World War One, he and his wife are re-creating a section of a WW1 trench, remembering the events of a century ago, and celebrating the local soldiers who took part.
Remember these? The reptiles are back this year…
It’s marvellous to be able to say that many local people will be running sales-stalls too, selling everything from ice-cream to plants. Local community groups will be hosting information stands (and probably selling a little jam on the side…).
For those interested in the future of the village, the Neighbourhood Plan committee has taken a ‘roadshow’ stall on the day, and will be happy to discuss current progress of the project with residents.
You can register your tug-of-war team (it’s just a fun event, folks, not for professionals!) on the day with the compere, but it would be helpful if you email the Fayre Organiser with your plans.
If you or your local group wants a stand at the fayre, it is not too late to apply. Just email the Fayre Organiser, and he will help you sort something out – £10 a table).
And …. relax
Need a rest? Thank goodness for the ‘Saint Margaret’s Bar’ and its cooling beers and ciders (and other drinks). A big thank-you to The Draycott Arms which will be running it again this year. Zara Hutson from the Arms has promised a proper choice of beers, so if you enjoy a pint, it really will suit you.
And don’t forget: the wonderful Tea Shop run by Christine Wibberley and her extended family; the barbecue, run by Draycott Moor College staff; and the hog-roast being organised by Tom Sale’s nephew.
The small print
Running order (timings approx): Dog Show 11.30-12.45 / Norman Archery Tournament 12.45-1.15 / Children’s Sports 1.15-2 / Fun Tug O War 2-2.30 / Historia Normannis display 2.30-3 / Tractor Parade 3-3.30 / Norman Fighting ‘Melee’ 3.30-4pm
This is a local event, all run voluntarily by local people for a local charitable cause (the ongoing, and expensive, maintenance of our lovely 13th century village church, St Margaret’s).
The fayre is held, as usual, right in the centre of the village, on Uttoxeter Road (ST11 9AE) – with gates open at 11am. The day closes around 4.30pm.
Entry is £5, but children under-17 get in free.
On-site car-parking is free. The helpful attendants are provided by Staffordshire Police Cadets, Leek Unit.
First-aid is on site, provided by St John’s Ambulance local branch.
If you can’t remember last year’s fayre, check out our review of it.
Local people, can you….?
As has been said, this is a strictly volunteer-run local event with all profits going to our village’s oldest building.
So, thinking of that – if you live locally, do you think you can help, by volunteering?
On the Sunday (and the Saturday evening) there is always a need. People are required for all sorts of tasks – from the basic, like stewarding on the car-park, right through to ‘shepherding’ the main acts.
If you can spare even a little time, or have some expertise, please email the Fayre Organiser, John Clarke. He will be very happy to hear from you!
Fayre volunteers will also want to keep an eye on the special Fayre Facebook page.
And again, special thanks to Paul & Sandy Ford of Highfields Farm. From the very start in 1990, they have hosted the fayre on their land, providing a water and electricity supply too.
And many thanks also to Wood Mitchell Printers who have printed the programme for many years.
See you there!!
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Dog show details…
This page was last updated on June 30th
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