The occasional unseasonable downpour did little to dampen the spirits of pupils, parents and staff at Fosse Way School’s Funtastic Fete held on the afternoon of Friday, 17th June.
Now in its second year, the much-anticipated fete was organised by the Friends of Fosse Way, a long-established body comprising parents, teachers and other supporters of the outstanding special school. An enticing and eclectic range of stalls and activities was on offer, many of them staffed by the pupils themselves, with something to suit all-comers. Despite the somewhat inclement weather conditions, the sum of almost £2,000 was raised for school funds!
This year, a music stage, prominently located near the entrance to the site, hosted a variety of performances and workshops that proved very popular with those who attended. The line-up included a ukulele group workshop, barn dancing and an appearance by Fosse Way School’s choir. North Somerset MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, was amongst the audience members and tapped an appreciative toe to as pupils danced to the uplifting Appalachian rhythms.
Those who prefer to exercise their feet on the football pitch rather than the dance floor had the opportunity to test their skills in getting the ball past Fosse Way staff members turned goalkeepers, Dan Chaventre and Sean Kelly.
Amongst a variety of other activities, one of the more unusual was an open-air hairdressing salon provided by Joanne Hurst, whose daughter, Phoebe Shipton, attends the school. Local resident, Pam Wheeler, was one of many who enjoyed the novel experience of an al fresco wash and trim.
The occasional downpour and hasty retreat to school buildings notwithstanding, this was a celebratory event enjoyed by members of the whole Fosse Way community, as well as local residents, marking another highly successful year at the school. Tim Carter