The traditional Christleton Village Fete was held this year on Saturday June 29th, starting with the parade through the village led by the Wirral Pipe Band. The new route chosen, due to constraints of obtaining an expensive road closure, now starts at the Toast Rack and follows safely around Woodfields to the Primary School Field. There has always been an enthusiastic following of the parade, and this year was no exception, with parents, grandparents and villagers running alongside the procession. The theme this year was the Paris Olympic Games, and many of the stalls were dressed accordingly.

The Rose Queen Bella Thompson Pollock was accompanied by Albie Potter (Page Boy) and a retinue of Athena & Helena Cosstick, Harriet Stead, Hattie Banks, Sophie Stevenson, Florence Georgia Williams, Darcy Cannock Edwards and Nia and Ivy Lewis. The Retiring Rose Queen, Maya Joinson and her retinue were also in the procession. Parents once again contributed to the Fete, with the children looking bright and cheerful in their summery dresses. The Compere this year was Jon Cannock-Edwards who enthusiastically introduced proceedings, and welcomed the Guest of Honour Dawn Sturgess, who has been responsible for organising the fete for over the last ten years. She fully deserves the accolades given to her as she has been the driving force behind all these events. Dawn accepted the applause of the audience, and thanked everyone for supporting her, but also putting out a plea for more people to join the organising committee.

The crowning of the Rose Queen, Bella Thompson Pollock, took place, with the crowning this year by Maya Joinson, after which Bella gave a short and confident speech to open the 2024 Fete. There were lots of attractions around the school field, including a specialist Reptile attraction which proved very popular, and a good audience to spend money and to witness the events on stage. The Fancy Dress was judged and prizes awarded and followed by music from the Wirral Pipe Band, Bobcat Bill’s Moonshine Mission and Kayla Jane. The event came to an end with the Raffle draw and presentation of prizes.

An event such as this cannot go ahead without sponsors, and this year the main sponsors were;

Christleton Pre School, The Sands Veterinary Practice, Abbey Gate College, Spitting Feathers, Chester. Also Osprey Windows, CNS Business & IT Support Services and the Ring O Bells Christleton. Thanks also to Mr Oliver Mitchell, Governors and staff of the Primary School to allow the event to take place on the School Field. I think this has been the 46th Fete to be held there. It’s a wonderful enclosed green space in the village, and extremely suitable for the village to use.

This annual event which next year will celebrate its 150th Anniversary, has always been a fund raiser for the village, with the Fete Committee annually distributing substantial sums to a variety of Village Groups. Long may it continue.