Village carnival bonanza (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Village carnival bonanza

WET weather failed to dampen the Seend spirit last Saturday as more than 1,200 people turned out to support the annual village fete.

Despite the downpour villagers flocked to Lye Field where they enjoyed a magic show, a falconry display and a baton-twirling performance from the Devizes Dazzlers majorettes.

The fete raised more than £4,000 for the Lye Field and Pavilion, which is completely self-funding and owned by the village.

The festivities began at 1pm when the majorettes led a procession of fancy dress competitors and decorated floats along the High Street and onto the field. Fete princess Samantha Wooster, a Year 6 pupil at Seend Primary School, then cut the red ribbon to declare the fete officially open.

Highlights included a model railway for children, a bucking bronco and for the first time in the fete's history, a wine-tasting tent. There were more than 25 stalls.

Swing band the Downtown 6 played a set of well-known numbers throughout the afternoon to keep spirits up in the pouring rain. Wadworth Brewery and Center Parcs were among the major sponsors who kindly donated prizes for the tombola.

The 56th Seend flower show took place last Saturday at the Seend Social Club. Georgina Beaumont won the Grenfell Medal for floral art while Roy Sheppard took the prize for best entry.

More photographs appear in this week's Wiltshire Times