A fine bright autumnal morning heralded A Royal Pageant in Metheringham on Saturday 19th October. Stalls appeared as if by magic and the High Street was transformed into a colourful bustling throng in time for the Lord Lieutenant’s procession to the Village "Cross".
Preceded by the Town Crier, Mr Terry Stubbings, and transported in a pony and trap, Mrs Bridget Cracroft-Eley was accompanied by the Chairman of North Kesteven District Council , the Vice-Chairman of Lincolnshire County Council and Mrs Rosie Creasey, Vice-Chairman of Metheringham Parish Council and co-organiser of the Fayre and Feast. They were followed in the procession by Metheringham’s own Starlite Twirlers, the Claymore Civil War Siege Group and the Kesteven Morris.

Mrs Creasey in her introduction thanked all the guests and stall holders for coming and hoped that all the businesses would benefit from this opportunity. She singled out parish clerk Michael Credland to thank him for organising the event this year.
Mrs Cracroft -Eley said how much she enjoys visiting villages to see how individual they make their celebrations and thanked the Parish Council for inviting her. She looked back over the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year reminding the crowds how the Queen and Prince Philip had travelled the length and breadth of not just this country but Australia and Canada and many other places as well and always with a smile. She highlighted some of the complications that can occur, using the Queen’s visit to Lincolnshire as an example, and then announced the 2002 Metheringham Fayre and Feast open.
 
The Lord Lieutenant was able to judge the best dressed stall and shop competition before she had to go to another engagement and the winner of the best dressed stall was St Barnabas’ Hospice and The Star and Garter, who had created a balcony complete with Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II, won the best dressed shop/business. Each receives a certificate and a prize.
 
The Starlite Twirlers were first to perform, finding even their new winter costumes didn’t keep out the biting wind and bravely performing their new routines for the first time. After the rain shower the junior’s came back to perform the Grease pom-pom routine that had received accolades at the recent British Twirling Association Championships. The children’s next public performance will be at the Lincoln Christmas Market.
Various bands and musicians were on the stage during the day with sets from local band Breathe, Billy J, Tanner’s Jack, the Riverside Ranters and Dance About.. The Kesteven Morris and the Earth Bound Misfits were performing in the street and there were steam organs at either end of the High Street.
 
As well as some 60 street stalls varying from gifts and cuddly toys to local charities and the media, the fire service and shops, there was a further throng in the village hall where crafts mixed with memorabilia. Stalls showing Metheringham as it used to be were prepared by the Friends of Metheringham Airfield and MACLA. Around the Church and on the Glebe Field the Civil War Siege Group were performing re-enactments and the occasional musket and cannon were heard to boom around the village in what was an impressive as well as educational display.

The Friends of Metheringham School were delighted with the cakes and sweets made by parents from the school and the support received from the public. Helped by the sale of helium balloons the stall made around £150 . Metheringham WI dressed impressively as Kings and Queens and with a magnificent Gold crown decorating the stall held a Gold Tombola which sold out quickly and raised £96 for the group.
The sponsor a year venture by St Wilfrid’s Church as part of the 400th anniversary of the re-dedication of the church after the Great Fire of Metheringham aroused interest at the Fayre and Feast with many more years being sponsored. Sponsors receive a limited edition china mug , a limited edition specially minted coin as well as their certificate. Some years are still available for sponsorship and leaflets can be obtained from the Another Chance shop or the church.
Metheringham Playgroup had a successful Fayre and Feast providing face painting and games and selling copies of a Music Quiz. They raised over £300 on the day and the Music Quiz is still available with a closing date of December 13th.
Metheringham and Dunston LIVES First Responder Group were very pleased with the response to their stall at the Fayre and Feast. Several more potential responders put their names down and other people were tempted enough to take information away. The competition to guess the weight of the oxygen mask was won by Libby Leggett.
St Wilfrid’s Church refreshments in the Church Hall raised over £300 and the Methodists raised £350 at the Chapel Rooms. There was a display involving King George in his boat with fireworks and bugles in the Methodist Church. The queens and Nell Gwynn from the library made £160 from the sale of videos and second hand books.

All photos on this page courtesy of P Ford & S Routledge