Summer Fair

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SATURDAY 19th JULY 2003

On Saturday, 19th July, there were two people from St Mary's (with their friends and relations) for whom the Village Summer Fair was not a priority; they were getting married in church, showing how the role of the church continues. But for almost everyone else from St Mary's, and for hundreds of other local people, the centre of attention was the grounds of Ewell Castle School. And it was a memorable day which can be summed up in the old wedding rhyme - "Something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue."

Taking these in reverse order, the blue was the sky - the sun shone for the whole day and the grounds of Ewell Castle were an idyllic summer scene with the green lawns and the multi-coloured stalls and sideshows - greatly enhanced in recent years by gazebos of varying hue. The only weather problem was an occasional gust of wind which threatened to lift some gazebos from their moorings - but no harm was done. The weather and the crowds together ensured that by the end of the day the Beer Tent was dry, the Teas and Refreshments were sold out and the supplies of ice-cream and lollies were exhausted.

The "borrowed" was of course Ewell Castle itself. It was the second year its spacious grounds and buildings had been used. 2003 confirmed that, on almost all counts (except the view of St Mary's) it is better than Glyn House, especially now that there is access from the By-Pass. It is more open and adaptable and we are very grateful to the School for the use of its facilities.

Partly because of the great scope at Ewell Castle, there were several "new" features this year. Towards the By-Pass, there were more "inflatables" - very popular with children and others not of a nervous disposition - the names tell the story - "Large Octopus Inflatable Slide", Bucking Bronco", and "Gladiator Duel". Surplus energy could also be dissipated by trying to "Beat the Goalie", while a different kind of talent was required for "Grinning thro' the Horse Collar", with prizes for men and women; it is reported that one of these winners was not unconnected with the Editorial Team of Ewell Parish News! Thanks to new technology of CD-ROM, pictures of children at St Mary's could also be printed off and bought.

There was, however, much that was "old", or (if that is now deemed "ageist") "established" to link us with Fairs over the years in Glyn House grounds. The St Mary's Morris Men performed for us once more, after an unavoidable absence last year and this year's Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor and Mrs Jonathan Reed, not only opened the Fair but also stayed throughout the day to judge the Men's Cake-Baking Competition (everyone one of the 19 cakes tasted) and at the end to draw the prizes of the Grand Draw (the Vicar, who earlier had been in his jaunty boater, was by then conducting the wedding). The Epsom and Ewell Silver Band played for our delight and we welcomed back the Fair Organ "Bella", and the Metrognomes barber shop quartet; the last-named this year eschewed the formal concert, instead wandering through the grounds and stopping to sing a ditty as they went, so that even the farthest-flung stallholder could enjoy them as well. For the children Punch and Judy provided unchanging fascination.

There was the usual wide range of stalls with goods for sale - from toys, linens, fancy goods and books to the varied temptations of bric-a-brac and jewellery. For the fashion conscious there was the nearly-new boutique. The grocery and preserves stall included honey donated from hives in the churchyard and candles and soap made from the bees-wax, and the market garden stall showed the results of many local sets of green fingers. The cake stall as usual sold out and the cake specially made and iced for the raffle will be used by the local winner for an 80 year-old's birthday.

The fatigues of "retail therapy" could be assuaged by the wide variety of food and liquid refreshment available, before plunging into the temptations of the many sideshows, where you could win a coconut or a cheese, get rid of inhibitions by smashing china, or have your face painted (the last not so popular with adults). There were also two tombolas, with one especially for children with donated toys or prizes.

The results of all this hard work were, in cash terms a profit of some ?7,5000 (after expenses but taking into account profits from Bake-Ins, Plant Sales etc earlier in the year). This will go towards the maintenance of the church and its various churchyards and public footpaths which together form a focal point in Ewell Village. The word 'towards' is deliberate because in 2002 maintenance of the churchyards alone cost St Mary's ?7,700, church maintenance cost ?4,000 and capital expenditure (including the Garden of Remembrance) was over ?10,000.

But the results of the Fair are much more than cash - the event is a coming-together of local people, young and old, families and friends, residents and former residents - to enjoy themselves in a part of Ewell not usually open to the public. It is made possible by the combined efforts of many people both in the regular congregation and in the wider family of St Mary's who join together, not just from 10.30 to 3.30 on the day, but in preparation over the preceding months as plans are made, goods collected, and also in the setting-up in the evening before and the taking-down and removal in the evening after. Every chair and table, gazebo and sideshow has to be taken to the site and taken back. In all this planning and activity we were again led this year by our organisers, Mike and Rosemarie Henson (and not forgetting their hard-working family). Last year they planned the first Fair at Ewell Castle - this year, they developed this further with zest and innovation, as well as constant cheerfulness and efficiency.

Their reward - and ours - was epitomised at the end of the Fair when the girls and boys from Ewell Grove Infants School gave us their customary splendid display of country dancing. They had been trained as usual by the Headteacher, Ellen Duncan, but it was her final appearance in this sale as she is retiring this summer after 23 years at the school; she herself joined in the last dance and was presented with a large bouquet as a token of gratitude , affection and good wishes for her future. The local children - in red and white - danced confidently on the green lawn, against the neo-Gothic building of Ewell Castle, surrounded by an appreciative audience in the blazing sunshine of a 'proper' English summer. It is what the Village Fair is all about.

N.M.H