Our charitable Fayre is an independent outdoor community event held in the grounds of The Plough Inn, Wrington, by kind permission of Punch, owners of The Plough and Dan Wiltshire and Jaz Thresher, the pub managers.
The Fayre Team consists of Ian Harries (Chair), Rita Wright (Secretary), Michael Berkley and Scott Arrowsmith (Artistic Directors), Steve Wray (Facilities Manager), Jeanette Wray (Stallholder Food Co-ordinator), Dan Wiltshire and Jaz Thresher (Pub Food/Drink & Advertising Managers), Andy Hutchings (Explorers Leader) and Tom Henry (Drama Co-ordinator).
The Fayre will be preceded by the Community Lantern Parade, weather permitting, organised by a separate group of volunteers led by Jo Sinclair. This year’s theme is the Birds and Bees. Local parents and children, some of whom will have attended lantern making workshops, will walk through the village displaying their lanterns, ending up at the village green in front of The Plough and then display the lanterns around the Fayre.
Prior to the Fayre’s official opening, Deborah Yamanaka, the Chair of the Parish Council, who have provided the village Christmas Tree and Christmas Tree lights, will officially turn them on.
The local Wrington Church of England Primary School choir will then sing some carols supported by their parents and other visitors.
Our Master of Ceremonies, Michael Berkley, will then perform a Dickensian mini scene with drama colleagues, before The Plough’s licensee, “The Tun Master,” Dan Wiltshire, will roll a Tun (barrel of beer) from the front of The Plough to the rear of The Plough where the official opening of the Fayre will take place.
In the region of 25 plus festive stalls have come together for the evening under floodlit canopies at the front and rear of The Plough. They range from food to eat, food to give as presents, drinks, Christmas floristry and a wide range of craft stalls providing Christmas gifts. Almost all of them showcase local talent.
In the centre of the rear car park of The Plough will be a covered central performance area in which Congresbury Brass Band and Congresbury Singers will perform for an expected audience of about 450 adults and children.
Wrington Drama Club will be supplying Victorian clothes for people to have their photos taken and we are encouraging everyone to get “Dickensian”.
The Fayre is held each year for two to three hours on the first Friday evening in December. This year it officially starts around 6:30pm following the lantern parade, village Christmas tree switch on, Dickensian scene and “Rolling the Tun”.
We raise funds to cover our costs through stallholder fees, the Grand Raffle and a 59 Club kindly arranged by The Plough Inn. Sponsors also cover some of our costs, for which we are very grateful. This year’s sponsors and supporters include Punch & The Plough; Trug Flowers & Gardens, Travis Perkins Building Supplies, David James Estate Agents, Double Tree by Hilton Hotel (Cadbury House), Alvis/Lye Cross Farm, Laura Joyce Wealth Management, Butcombe, Thatchers, Twisted Oak, Wrington Adult & Junior Drama Clubs and all the stall holders, performers and Fayre Team.
We are non-profit making. Any surplus monies are granted to local organisations and charities including Yeo Explorer Scouts, Wrington CofE Primary School, Wrington Minibus and Wrington Charities.
For further information please contact the current Chair of the Wrington Dickensian Christmas Fayre Team – Ian Harries on Tel: 07900 583921 or Email ian.harries0@icloud.com
