Metheringham Fayre and Feast - 18th October 2008

The weather was fine, the stalls were there, the crowds came out and a good day was had by all. Metheringham High Street had a distinctly military feel to it as the stalls and stallholders, music and events reflected the Great War of 1914-18 and the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice.

A Great War machine gun nest outside the Star & Garter. Photo:D Howes

The local army cadets led the parade to the village cross just before 2.00 p.m. where Richard Pullen performed the official opening alongside dignitaries from the local councils. Mr Pullen is an authority on the military tank building that began here in Lincolnshire and there was a radio controlled ¼ scale mark IV Replica Tank present (N.B. the paper said mark VI so I hope I'm right!) to accompany the opening ceremony. In the village hall Richard Pullen's book Landships of Lincoln was on sale alongside the craft and gift stalls and 1914-1918 and other military memorabilia and displays. The MACLA (Metheringham Area Community Leisure Association) stall was busy all day with great interest being shown in the photograph albums of old Metheringham and its people.

MAD Choir entertains the Feast Crowd. Photo:D Howes

Back out on the street there was a full programme of singing and music led by the MAD singers, the Starlite Twirlers and Silver Sounds Brass Band and with street entertainment from The Earth Bound Misfits and Street Organs. New for this year was the Army Training Climbing Wall and a higher profile from the Metheringham Detachment Army Cadet Force.

MADSPA's award winning stall. Photo:D Howes

The competition for best decorated stall was won by MADSPA (Metheringham and District Swimming Pool Association) and the best Commercial Property went to The Star and Garter the outside of which resembled a bunker and inside there was a military hospital and the bunker feel continued with a poppy strewn low ceiling.

Dot Howes

See Also:
Metheringham Fayre & Feast 2008 Photo Gallery
Jeff's Review of the Feast