News that Winchelsea Fete has been cancelled because the new Rye Country Show decided to set up outside the town on the same day has not gone down well with residents. Many believe that the town should not have given in so easily and that the community would have rallied round. Indeed, some feel that a summer fete supported only by residents would have made for a real village occasion and boosted support for an event that has lost its way.
Winchelsea Bonfire Boyes are particularly disgruntled with the decision to give in, having agreed to take six pitches at the fete in response to calls for help to revive the flagging event. Work had already started on a series of activities and stalls with a medieval theme. Rather than give up, the Bonfire Boyes have decided to ignore the threat from the Rye Country Show. They plan to stage a pop-up medieval street fair somewhere in Winchelsea on the day on which the fete would have taken place, Saturday August 13.
The Bonfire Boyes are inviting anyone who would have had a stall at the fete to join them and indeed anyone else. Attractions will include a Medieval Unlucky Dip, a Medieval Fruit Machine and apparently the Bonfire Boyes own “secret weapon”! They are also trying to organise street music and other entertainment. When asked what would they do if no one turned up, a Bonfire Boyes spokesman said, “Who cares? We’ll enjoy ourselves!”
Image: Richard Comotto