With just over eight weeks to go, organisers are busy making sure there will be something for everyone at what has become an annual fun-filled occasion in Ben Rhydding.
They are also hoping that some summer weather will have arrived when this year’s Ben Rhydding Community Fete takes place on Saturday June 30th from 2 – 4pm on the former Middle School field on Wheatley Lane and Valley Drive. Entrance is free.
As ever there will be entertainment for the whole family with live jazz and rock ‘n’ roll bands, a bouncy castle, stalls, games and displays of dancing and karate. Refreshments include a barbecue, a beer tent supported by the Wheatley Arms and Ilkley Brewery, a tea tent and plenty of ice cream too.
Opening the Fete this year will be the chair of the Parish Council and Fete organiser, Mrs Karen Palframan, along with the winner of the programme cover competition, from one of the local primary schools.
And this year’s theme? “Well, this being 2012 and the Olympic torch passing through Ilkley on June 24th, what else could it be but the Olympics!” says Mrs Palframan.
An extra attraction this year will be the recently formed Ben Rhydding Community Choir. Led by Keely Hodgson, this enthusiastic and recently formed choir will be performing a selection of the songs they will be singing at a fund raising concert a couple of weeks later. That concert will be at St. John’s church, Ben Rhydding at 6.30pm on Saturday 14th July in aid of the orphans at The Revival Centre, Matugga, Uganda.
Another innovation at this year’s Fete will give visitors the chance to buy a mug and create a personalised design for it. In doing so they’ll be helping raise funds for the Friendship Foundation UK, a charity set up by former vicar of St. John’s, the Rev. Brian Gregory, to help those in need in Romania.
Local businesses have always been generous in providing sponsorship and raffle prizes for the Fete and a wide variety of local organisations take part in it, including sports groups, schools, uniformed organisations, churches and charities.
“It’s only a few weeks away now,” says Mrs Palframan, “ but there is still time for any local clubs or organisations who have not yet done so, to register their interest and take part. – And let’s just hope we’ve got some proper summer weather by then!”
For further information contact Karen Palframan at
