HOW a village fair should be, Tedburn Fair on a hot and sunny Saturday ticked all the boxes with plenty of country-style pursuits as well as space to sit and absorb everything going on.

The new venue delighted just about everyone. It was a bit like being in an enormous, gentle, green bowl, easy to see everything and to hear the excellent bands. These included FOS Brothers, Marnie and Dirty Money.

Among the pursuits were axe throwing, hawking, target shooting, demonstrations of smithing, shearing, chain saw carving, vintage and classic cars, tractors and stationary engines, ferret racing, a dog show, craft tent, stalls and the wonderful ladies of Tedburn WI serving refreshments all day.

On the hunt for more information about Tedburn’s past was Karen Fletcher who set up Tedburn History and Information Society with Malcolm Little about 18 months ago.

They had maps, photographs and lots of information. Karen said they had received lots of little nuggets of information that day.

SHEEP SHEARING

“Anyone with anything about the village, weddings, funerals, events, we would love to know. We can copy photographs and information” Karen said. Contacts are on the village website. Each property in the village has its own page in the archive. Their next exhibition will be in November.

There was a good line up of tractors huge and small, classic vehicles, an enormous bouncy castle, demonstrations of sheep shearing by Cheriton and Tedburn Young Farmers’ Club which had held a Speed Shear challenge earlier in the month.

Members of Crediton and District Lions Club ran their soft toy tombola. Mark Doggett had fruit and jars of honey from his bee hives at Tedburn.

There were other fruit, vegetable and food stalls, plus members of Danes Castle fire crew from Exeter. Being able to look over a fire engine always draws the children.

FLOWER SHOW

Entries for the flower and vegetable show were up this year in both the adult and children’s classes with some of the young people also entering the adult classes such as photography and hand crafts. It was hoped there would be allotment entries for next year as well.

Martin Rich’s dahlias were again superb, winning him trophies for the most outstanding exhibit, the most points scored in the dahlia section, most points in the flower section and for the most outstanding bloom.

Alun Ward took home three trophies, for scoring the highest points in the show, most points in the vegetable classes and the best display of produce.

May Fry won the shield for gaining most points in the children’s classes, the cup for junior photography, that for most points in the 11-16 years classes and the certificate for that section.

Angela Brewer won the rose bowl for most points in the flower arrangement classes and the cup for the most outstanding flower arrangement.

M McKnight won the award for most points scored in adult craft and the cup for the most outstanding exhibit in that section.

Sasha Palfrey won the medal for the heaviest pumpkin. Karen Fletcher took home the cup for most points in the cookery classes.

CHILDREN’S

Sarah Munday won the trophy for most points in the 10 years and under classes and the certificate for most points in the six years and under classes.

Ollie Taylor was awarded the certificate for most points in the 7-10 years classes. The cup for the best handwriting was won by Sophie Parker.

The next day an informal Sunday service with Messy Church was held in the big tent.