Pictures: Remembering 'bubbly and vibrant' horsewoman at Ella Fest

Ella Fest took place this weekend and the temperamental weather wasn’t enough to stop people from turning out in their hordes to have a good time.

The event in Portesham was held to mark what would have been the 21st birthday of Ella Pallister, a keen horse-woman who died aged 17 in a showjumping accident.

It would have been her 21st birthday on June 22.

Friends and family created Ella Fest - and invited everyone along - to celebrate the life of the ‘bubbly and vibrant’ youngster.

Organiser Brenda Parker, a close family friend said she was thrilled with how successful the event had been.

She said: “We’ve got a mini-Glastonbury going on. Everyone’s having a whale of a time.

“It really went fantastically well. I think everyone who brought a ticket turned up. The lady selling fish and chips had to go and get more potatoes because she ran out.

“There was a really good selection of music. We are really pleased with how it’s gone.”

Performers included he Leggomen, Ansell and Gretal, Wilson, Hustle and Slipstream.

As well as the music, there was a bar, stalls, food and children’s entertainment.

The festival opened at 2pm and finished at 10.30pm on Saturday. 

The event was a fundraiser for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Ella’s family and friends have raised more than £27,000 over the last three years for the charity.

Brenda said: “Ella would be bouncing over this, she would thoroughly have enjoyed it.
“A lot of her friends went to the festival, coming out to enjoy the day, as well as friends of her parents. It was so nice to see people we haven’t met up with in a while.

“It was lovely for us all to get together and remember Ella. It helped us get through the day.”

The event was hailed a great success, but Brenda said it’s ‘too soon’ to decide if it will become a yearly event.