Mike Jones – Secretary Chiddingfold Festival Committee
Around 2000 people attended the 2008 Chiddingfold Village Festival on Sunday 8 June was held on a perfect summer’s day which set the scene for a lovely Village Day. The theme was again “ A Country Fayre” Our Festival was generously supported by The Swan Inn and with The Crown. Liss Band played a delightful selection of tunes and well deserved the applause that they received.
We were very pleased to welcome Mark Austin Wikipedia ® from ITV News to open our Festival this year. Mark said that having moved to the charming village of Chiddingfold relatively recently, he was delighted to be asked to open the event. Mark also said “ ….and I would like to emphasise how important it is for people to support the village shops and businesses which is so vital for their survival ” He very much enjoyed being in a vibrant village such as Chiddingfold and noted that the Chiddingfold Post Office had survived so far. Chiddingfold Village Archive in the Old Bank House was open all day displaying old photographs of Chiddingfold Shops and Businesses in the first half of the 20th Century at the beginning of which Chiddingfold supported around sixty and businesses.
Mark also toured the Festival stalls with the Chairman, Helen Jones, to judge the best stall. Once again this was won by the Horticultural Society. In acknowledgement of a number of years service to the Festival in hot summer conditions cooking a Barbecue for all, Mark and Helen awarded a special prize to the Scouts Stall. This year there were some great raffle prizes and later in the day the winners were announced.
The Maypole and country dancers gave a beautiful display and it was nostalgic to think of all the young children who have taken part in this very English tradition over the past centuries. Next came some races for the children. We were also pleased to welcome the Fire Service who attended with an engine and an equipped land rover. They gave an arena demonstration of a dog trained to identify the use of accelerants in suspected cases of arson. Finally there was the traditional Tug of War for which this year we had three teams. The champion team from the Bonfire Committee defeated in turn the Cricket Club and a team from the Winterton Arms before being defeated by a team composed of all the children much to the children’s delight.
No-one went away hungry! The Ladies Group served tea and coffee from early morning. They worked throughout the day serving filled rolls and home made cakes. The Juice & Smoothies Bar, run by Chidd Green, was as popular as ever. Together with the Scouts’Barbecue, the Bonfire Committee’s beer tent, Gospel Green’s Cider, Roberts Stores Indian Food and RSCH Maternity Unit ice-cream stall this meant that there was something for everyone.
The sheep shearing display was as popular as last year. Various games and competitions were available for the children. Haslemere Rotary Club provided stocks and the Cricket Club a coconut shy. SAAFA provided soldiers dressed in World War Two uniforms. For the adults there was the opportunity to browse at the book stall, admire the Watercolour Groups display, marvel at the photographs at the Image Works tent and ../../Fld%20Contacts/Post%20Office.htm"> to explore the various items for sale in the Craft Market.
Four adjacent beautiful gardens were open around the Green, organised by the Friends of St Mary’s. In the Church, there was a wonderful Flower Festival organised by Jo Lavis and compiled by about thirty village volunteers. It was truly spectacular. Some of the old Church records were on display as usual and the bell-ringers rang and took guided tours.
The Committee would like to thank all the numerous village organisations who contributed to the day and helped to make it such a success and to Tony Tallis who acted as MC. As one visitor said “this is a true Village Festival and we love it.”
Full accounts will be displayed at the Post Office as soon as possible together with a list of the prize donations for the Grand Draw. The Chiddingfold Festival is exclusively for local village charities and those to be supported will be the Village School, the Village Nursery School, the Village Hall and Sydenhurst.

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Most of these pictures are of the preparation

This picture towards the end