Celebrating 25 years in style (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Celebrating 25 years in style

Rebecca Alexander wins the race for three to four-year-olds Ref: 99114-64SHRIVENHAM marked the 25th anniversary of its village fete in style. This year's fete has been labelled the most successful ever after thousands of people turned out for hours of fun and entertainment on Saturday.

The event had something for everyone with attractions ranging from a dog show to a village tug of war contest.

Elaine Ware, secretary of the fete committee, was delighted with the way it went.

"It was probably the most successful fete we have ever had," she said. "It was absolutely brilliant.

"We had 40 stalls, 30 car-booters, a craft show, a huge funfair and there were just hundreds and hundreds of people.

"The glider simulator was very popular and the falconry display was the star attraction. It was tremendous. Everybody loved it.

"We had a companion dog show with over 100 entries. People came from far and wide for that. It was just an amazing day."

Elaine said there were more than 2,000 people at the event.

A group of children managed to win the tug of war trophy from the holders, the Prince of Wales pub.

There were performances by the Highworth Silver Band, a raffle with 80 donated prizes, hot dogs provided by the Scouts and cream teas laid on by the Swindon and District Parkinson's Disease Society.

"After all that happened at 7pm we had the circular walk, which the fete committee created for its millennium project," said Elaine.

"Then it was 8pm and all systems go for the evening. We had local band Bits and Pieces and a barbecue.

"It was really, really superb.

"We celebrated our 25th anniversary in style. We wanted to make it a bit special.

"It was a lot of hard work and there was a very satisfied committee at the end of it."

Elaine thanked Clare Saunders, a local artist who designed a banner for the fete's anniversary.

"It is absolutely fabulous," she said. "We were really grateful to her because it is something special that can be kept forever."

Elaine added that the committee members were sorry that John Hirst, a former chairman of the committee, was not well enough to attend and that their thoughts were with him.

Isabel Field