Historic fayre hailed a success (From Thurrock Gazette)

Historic fayre hailed a success

3:20pm Saturday 30th June 2012 in News

THOUSANDS of people made their way to Horndon-on-the-Hill for the village’s annual Feast and Fayre.

The event, which dates back to 1215, took place over the weekend against the backdrop of variable weather.

But that didn’t stop crowds flocking to the village, where the community had clubbed together to put on a whole host of activities and entertainment.

East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe opened the event, pictured right, on Saturday before presenting awards to Horndon Primary School pupils Cloe Wade and Christian Mann, after they won the Fayre’s poetry contest.

Every year, the Fayre coincides with the Horndon parish flower festival, which this year saw the Church of St Peter and St Paul’s clad in beautiful jubilee blooms, adding a splash of colour to the village festivities.

High Road was closed for the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday as the Thurrock Spectrum brass band played, Palmer’s College street theatre group dazzled and Gable Hall and St Clere’s pupils performed, keeping the crowds entertained.

In keeping with the Fayre’s jubilee theme, stalls organiser Linda Carrington was the Horndon Queen, clothed in a special gown made by Stanford-le-Hope-based Nu-Drapes, a bespoke upholsterer, who had sponsored the event. The Swan pub hosted music and dance acts in its car park on both days and on Saturday night featured local acts such as Ash and Dodgy Jammers as part of its free music festival.

On Sunday, Tom Heslopp, of Victoria Park Harriers, and Deborah Harrington, of Havering Mayesbrook, won the respective men’s and women’s 10k races, organised by the Thurrock Rotary group and Thurrock Foodbank.

More than 400 runners took part in the race which weaved through and around the picturesque village.

The final battle of the weekend saw the Bell pub triumph in an annual tug of war contest against the Swan pub.

The Horndon Feast and Fayre is steeped in history and was even given the royal seal of approval in 1215 when King John awarded the village a charter to host the event.

Fayre coordinator Kim Towlson said: “We must have had between two and three thousand people up here in the village over the course of the weekend, which means a lot of money will be raised for local causes.

“It was a peaceful, enjoyable family event which everyone seemed to enjoy, despite the unpredictable weather.

”I would like to thank everyone who helped make it such a success, especially our hard working band of committee members and cadets from Stanford-le-Hope ATC, who were at it from dawn until dusk on both days helping.”