Month: February 2018

I don’t mind admitting that I was somewhat puzzled as to where to start planning a fete. I’ve never done one before. However, I’m an expert in Googling.

A quick Google produced an Australian site: Fetes and festivals which produces a handy pdf document full of ideas.

This was actually quite scary, because, in addition to all the ideas for interesting stalls, there was a list of different paperwork and permits that might be required. The Telegraph added to the gloom, in an article warning that fetes were folding due to all the ‘Elf ‘n’ Safety bureaucracy required . Doom-laden, I sought out the fete’s previous organiser. Fortunately, she had a folder containing valuable information from the last two years’ fetes. My hero!

The first thing I found were minutes from the previous years. And it turns out that most years, it all starts with a discussion about finding a new venue! Who knew?

Also in this valuable treasure trove were names of previous volunteers, previous gotchas, and a very useful risk assessment document (I had learned from my Googling that risk assessment is Very Important).

From these various sources, I was able to put together an initial project plan, which I did using Trello. The plan can be found here – but bear in mind that it’s a working document!

I also called the district council to find out what we needed to do to close a road. Simply put, we would need to notify the affected residents, and then submit a form to the council at least 12 weeks before the event. This would just about fit in with the date of our next meeting, so with this preparatory work done, I headed over to Barcelona with DH for MWC and F1 Testing with a clear conscience.

It came as a surprise that the committee were looking for a new venue. After all, I’d been to the last two fetes (since living in the village), and whilst it wasn’t the traditional village green location that one immediately thinks of when hearing the words “village fete”, it seemed to work reasonably well.

However, it turns out that the pub has been put up for sale. There doesn’t seem to be any imminent sign of it changing hands, but it could happen. This, and a couple of other concerns, led to the committee considering other venues. The trouble is, there’s not much other choice. Historically, there’s been the Old Rectory, however it’s now in private ownership as the village hasn’t had its own vicar for many years. The owner had previously hosted the fete a few years back, but understandably wasn’t keen to do it again as it’s a massive undertaking and invasion of privacy – simply they’ve done their part & are happy to give someone else a turn.

So, where else? The village is fortunate to have its own very nice village hall. However, it has no grounds and is next to a major road. To have the fete there would require the closing of a cul-de-sac to provide space for all the stalls and activities. Obviously this would be inconvenient to all the residents living there.

We have a historic village green, however this now forms part of some people’s front gardens! It’s too small to support the whole fete, so would need another road closure, and it’s also too far from the facilities of the village hall to be of any use.

As this is a faming community, there may also be also fields available for use. However, we wouldn’t have utilities like power and water, nor access to toilet facilities.

We agree to investigate the options and report back at the next meeting!

Wanting to contribute more to village life, we went along to the first fete committee meeting. DH (aparently DH stands for “Darling Husband” in common Internet parlance) had an idea for a new entertainment stall, and, having played last year, I would volunteer the services of the Harbury Ukulele Group. A fair few people had turned up, so it was a bit unexpected that the first item on the agenda was to discuss whether they would have a fete this year.

I was surprised, as when viewing the house before we moved into the village two years ago, I knocked on the neighbours’ door. A nice lady came to answer, and told me a bit about life in the village. One of the highlights mentioned then was the village fete. Cousin A, who was with me, agreed. It seems that DH’s mum and Auntie Nellie were firm fans of the fair, which was famed for its bargains back in the day.

Anyway, it seems that part of the problem was that no one wanted to organise it this year. People have other responsibilities, and the lady who organised it last year has her house up for sale. So, thinking it would be a shame to lose such an long-established tradition, and fuelled by a rather pleasant glass of red wine, I put my hand up to volunteer. DH looked quizzically at me. But I was not daunted. After all, how hard could it be?

We’d been to the last two fetes. A few stalls and activities at the local pub. It was clear that there were many willing volunteers, and that everyone knew what they were doing. All it needed was a bit of co-ordination, right?

I was thrown my first curveball straightaway. We needed to look for a new venue.