Plans are coming together for Iden fete in July this year. For villagers and visitors it’s a chance to raise funds for the upkeep of Iden pavilion, as Debbie Chalet the new chair of the trust responsible for the building explains.
Iden was gifted a parcel of land by local philanthropist Eric Mason in 1934. He left it to the village with covenants on the land that prevent it being built on. There has been a cricket pavilion, in some shape or form, on the playing fields for over a hundred years.
A better pavilion was needed after the village set up Iden FC in 1964, as there were now teams of different ages playing both cricket and football on the fields.
The Iden Pavilion Committee had planning consent to build a better pavilion from August 1967. Many Iden residents and other local people raised a sum of £5,000 which included a Sussex Playing Fields Association short-term loan of £2,500, and gave their skilled labour for free and a new pavilion finally opened May 1971. Eric’s widow cut the ribbon at the opening.
Recently it was suggested an annual fete take place in order to raise funds for the upkeep of the building and that is how Iden fete came into being!
A three-person trust has now been formed and is applying for charitable status in order to raise funds from grants, in addition to fundraising efforts.
As the trust’s chair I am passionate about improving the use of the pavilion in our pretty village of Iden. I feel connected to the project because Eric Mason was a resident of Park Farm in Iden for over 40 years and Park Farm has been my home for almost five years.
The playing fields and pavilion are used regularly throughout the year by Iden Cricket Club, who also maintain the playing fields. In addition, the area has been used for a summer get together for Iden residents with races for all the family and a dog show. Food and drink could be purchased and consumed.
In 2024 the venue was used by the Oliver Curd Trust to celebrate their 15 year anniversary and it is hoped more events like this can take place in the future.
The fundraising started in 2024 with sponsors donating funds to support a handful of runners in Rye Ancient Trials. £1,000 was raised from this and £150 from the sale of cakes at the Oliver Curd event.
This year on Saturday, July 26 from 12:30pm – 6pm, a new event will take place and be open to non-residents of Iden as well as local Iden people. It will be called the Iden Summer Fayre so please make a note in your diaries. It will take place on the playing fields by the pavilion, and will feature many old favourites such as a dog show and cake and plant stall.
The line up of stall holders and entertainment is being worked on and will be revealed in Rye News over the coming weeks. All proceeds of the day will go toward the pavilion.
Watch this space.
Image Credits: Debbie Chalet .