The 2025 fete was held on Saturday 5th July
The weather stayed fine and fete raised a bumper £6,300
Thankfully the weather held for us this year and so the village fete was another great success.
We are very grateful for all the hard work put in by Alix and Keith and their army of volunteers.
The net proceeds are around £6,290 compared with last year’s figure of £5,800 last year.
A big thank you to the various sponsors of the event, notably the Mercers and Berriman Eaton – and to everyone who turned up on the day to help.
Apart from the varied attractions there was plenty to eat and drink. Last year we had the rodeo pig attraction; this year we had the assault course.
We hope you enjoyed them.
And I wonder what we will have next year?
So, here’s to Saturday 4th July 2026. Put the date in your diary!
Graham Tritton,
St Chad’s treasurer
How the proceeds added up, stall by stall
| Bottle stall | £717 |
| Refreshments | £653 |
| Gate | £1,559 |
| Guess the teddy/sweets | £75 |
| Play your cards right | £85 |
| Pimm’s and Prosecco | £623 |
| Coconut shy and Tin Can Alley | £236 |
| Plants | £596 |
| Hook a duck | £75 |
| Raffle | £1,367 |
| Competitions | £45 |
| Assault course | £58 |
| Auction | £224 |
| Football competition | £70 |
| Personal donations | £140.00 |
| Commercial stall fees | £400 |
| Total | £7,421 |
| Less estimated expenses | £1121 |
| Estimated net proceeds | £6,291 |
Merry and family charm at the fete
The Rev Merewyn Smith – known as Merry – opened the village fete, attending along with her husband Lee and three-year-old daughter Beatrice.
She was welcomed by Henry lbberson, who spoke to her about her life and calling to the Church. Their conversation, relayed to the fete-goers, showed she has a great sense of humour
The fun afternoon event, showcasing such a range of local talents, expertise, cars and produce, gave Merry a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet many from the village, which she welcomed with open arms and thoroughly enjoyed.
Stourbridge, where her parents still live, she attended local schools, where her interest in matters of history and RE were kindled, leading her eventually to Bangor University to read history and religious studies.
This was followed by eight years in education, teaching in Walsall, Shrewsbury and Bilston, where she became head of RE.
“call from God” and was ordained, working first in Stoke on Trent, followed in 2018 by her appointment as vicar of Newport and rector of, Chetwynd and Longford, from which parishes she joins us.
She is in the process of moving in to the village so do look out for her – she will be very pleased to have a chat.
There were flowers for Merry, a gift for Lee and a soft toy for Beatrice, three, whose ‘thank you’ charmed the onlookers
Fete had something for young, and old
(taken from the articles which appeared in the August 2025 Parish News magazine.)
Photography by Mike Coope and Mike Moss