By Jonathan White
Hundreds enjoyed the warm weather to turn out for Wistaston Village Fete in the grounds of St Mary’s Church Rectory.
It began with a procession from Wistaston Memorial Hall led by Scottish Piper John Beattie.
In the parade were 35th South West Cheshire Scout group with a Union Jack flag, St Mary’s Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, and a Chinese Dragon.
The procession also included the retiring Wistaston Rose Queen Naomi Barker and her attendant Poppy Bellingham in an open-top sports car and this year’s Wistaston Rose Queen Lucy Rowland and her attendant Charlotte Shaw in an open-top vintage car.
At the Rectory, Naomi thanked Wistonian’s for their support and revealed more than £2,700 had been raised for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital during her year of office.
St Mary’s Wistaston Rector Mike Turnbull then passed the crown from Naomi to Lucy who said her chosen charities this year are Cancer Research UK and the Wistaston Scout Group.
This year’s Wistonian of the year, Eileen Bamber, then officially opened the Fete.
John White and Ken Sambrook were Master of Ceremonies and introduced each event in the Arena.
John paid tribute to Sheila and Geoff Armitage who have both passed away in the past year. They were strong pillars of Wistaston’s community for many years.
Eileen Bamber and a previous Wistonian of the year, Laurie Clough, presented prizes to the winners in the Laurie Twiss Award for Journalism.
Children took part in a fancy dress competition and entries included a cowboy, a cowgirl, a strongman, a Superman, a pirate, a nurse, a Ninja turtle, a footballer and several princesses.
The winner was five-year-old Stirling Marsh, from Wistaston, for his Rocket Man costume, with his two-year-old brother Samson receiving second prize for his Robin (Batman’s sidekick) costume complete with racing bike.
There were displays by the 35th South West Cheshire Scout group, TheFunkyChoir.com, the Hartford Gymnastics Display Team, and Miss Caroline’s School of Dance.
Entertainer Twizzle Gumboot the friendly scarecrow kept children and adults entertained.
There were more than 30 stalls representing local organisations and charities, plus a bouncy castle and refreshments.
Stalls were each allocated a country participating in this year’s FIFA World Cup.
The best dressed stall award went to Shavington Drama Group for their Costa Rica theme.
They received a prize from Mayor of Cheshire East Council Cllr Wesley Fitzgerald and Mayoress, Mrs Joan Fitzgerald.
Admission was by donation and proceeds from gate receipts and Wistaston Community Council stalls will go to other Wistaston village events, like the Flower and Produce Show, Spring and Christmas Concerts, and November Fireworks.
Organisers Wistaston Community Council needs new members to help organise next year’s Fete and other Wistaston-based events.
For details visit http://www.wistastoncommunity.co.uk
(All pictures courtesy of Jonathan White)
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