LARGE numbers of people headed to Old Orchard, Bicknoller, to enjoy the annual Macmillan Cancer Support garden fete despite dark, cloudy skies and rainfall on and off during the day

The West Somerset Brass Band provided entertainment and teas, home-made cakes and preserves, various raffles and stalls and side shows added to the fun on Saturday (August 26).

The organisers had wondered while setting up in the rain on the Friday if anybody would attend, but they were ‘amazed’ when they saw people of all ages, including many children, arriving.

More than £500 was taken at the door and the net total raised for Macmillan this year was £2,900, taking the total amount raised past £84,000 since 1990. 

Coleridge Committee chairman Maggie Pumphrey said: “A great deal of work is involved in setting up the fete and clearing away, apart from the 30-plus helpers during the fete itself.

“People who have been helping over the years are beginning to feel their age, and we would be pleased to hear from anybody in the village or the area who would be prepared to get involved in future.

“The Coleridge Committee say a big thank you to all our supporters, and we hope to see everybody next year.”

Next year’s fete will be held a week later due to the band being in Brittany on a twinning trip over the August Bank Holiday weekend, so the date to ho in diaries will be August 31, 2024.