Well they came in their droves!
The first Iden summer fayre took place on Saturday, July 26 on the playing fields in front of the pavilion which will be the recipient of all the monies raised.
Of course the weather always plays a part in the success and it was dry until 9pm that day, a great relief to all! Stallholders said it was “well organised and had a great atmosphere” and all stalls selling had a good day.
The food from Michael in Iden, backed up by his brother Dom and daughter Charlotte, was a huge success and the queues of people were testament to the quality of food
made and served, all of which was sold. Kyle from Tatner’s was also there and also sold out all his loaded fries.
The dog show run by Berni Fiddimore was a great success and was sponsored by Reggies, with owner Nicky helping with judging too. There were many entrants and it provided much fun as the four-legged friends competed to be dog with waggiest tail and most handsome dog.
Berni’s daughter, Morganne Fiddimore, ran the Horse Box Bar which did a roaring trade in Pimm’s and wine, and the neighbouring stand selling draft beer from the Waterworks and Nightingale’s cider, also sold well and sold out!
500-600 people from Iden, Rye, Peasmarsh and further afield passed through the afternoon taking part in the coconut shy and smash the china games as well as the less
strenuous pursuit of hook a duck and a tombola.
Cream teas and glasses of fizz from Charles Palmer were also consumed in good quantities and all this led up to the prize giving at the end of the day.
Tickets for the grand draw had been pre-sold and on the day the same amount again were sold. The winner received £300 cash put up by Fred (Virat) Bozyel from Diamond Koz his first time as sponsor to a summer fayre. He remarked: “it was a great afternoon for the local community and I am happy to be part of the occasion.”
The takings came in at an amazing figure of £10,200 and costs had been kept down to a little over £4,000 thanks to kind donations of items for the day from people in Iden.
There will be an open meeting in September in Iden for the community to have an
opportunity to offer thoughts on the future of the pavilion and for the trustees of Iden
Pavilion Trust to talk through their ideas.
Image Credits: Carolyn Gould .
It was indeed a really good afternoon and I enjoyed being a part of Iden’s midsummer celebration once more. Judging the dog show is a long way from providing kiddies rides on Mr Jenkins, my donkey back when I was 15 or so but at least its still animals.
I have to say though that it was Morganne my daughter who set up the dog show really. She dreamed up the classes, printed posters and distributed them, put up the ring, the bunting and set up the admission arrangements. She provided the straw bales for seating, brought loads of water and huge doggy bowls, and was responsible for ordering the printed rosettes, kindly donated by the Dog Show sponsor Reggies Place, Doggy Day Care in Playden. All I really had to do was pick winners.