Sutton Poyntz to hold Victorian street fayre (From Dorset Echo)

Sutton Poyntz to hold Victorian street fayre

2:00pm Sunday 24th June 2012 in Local News By Rachel Stretton

VILLAGERS will be taking a step back in time tomorrow at a Victorian street fayre.

The event in Sutton Poyntz marks the tenth time the biennial fayre has been held in the village.

But organisers are asking visitors to walk in where possible as car parking will not be available due to flooding.

Guy Bridge, chairman of the street fayre committee, said “Although the car park is unavailable, we really want as many people as possible to walk in.

“We’re determined not to do an Isle of Wight Festival. We want to get the word out that although there will be no parking, the fayre is still very much going ahead.

“There will be so much going on we don’t want anyone to miss out.”

The day includes themed stalls and crafts, music and a charity auction, with stallholders entering into the spirit by donning Victorian costumes.

Mr Bridge said the event ‘is always about having a fun community day and rather successfully managing to give a lot of money to local projects and charities’.

He added: “The fayre has built a reputation for the family entertainment on offer and people come from far and wide.”

Organisers hope to see up to 6,000 people enjoying the event.

Sutton Poyntz, which found fame as the Overcombe of Thomas Hardy’s novel ‘The Trumpet Major’, held a street fayre regularly until the First World War, reviving the event in 1994.

More than £68,000 has been raised and donated since then to charities including Julia’s House, the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Water Aid.

Mr Bridge said: “The fayre committee works very hard throughout the year but it is the whole village that gets involved on the day and makes this such a successful event.”

He described the amount of cash that has been raised for good causes as ‘staggering, for a small village get together’.

He added: “More than anything the fayre is about lots of family fun and entertainment.

“Have a good explore, wander round and enjoy this wonderful picturesque village.”

Craft demonstrations include stained glass, beads and jewellery, canal boat painting, pottery, basket making and thatching.

There will also be children’s activities in the grounds of the Springhead pub and an art display in the Wessex Waterworks Museum. Antiques, books and furniture will be on sale all day and event sponsors Goadsby Estate Agents will host a charity auction in the afternoon.

Music and entertainment includes Ed Hintze’s choir, Dorset for Singing, the Mill Street Jazz Band, the Andy Grant Trio and Juno Belly Dancers.