This year’s Midsomer Norton Fayre was another success, as revellers enjoyed a range of activities in the hot summer sun. Families could enjoy activities from guitar and brass bands, bouncy castles and inflatable slides to rides from goat drawn carriages and displays from birds of prey and classic cars.

The event began with the famous annual Lions Duck Race with a number of ‘heats’. The first ten ducks from each heat then took their place for the Final race. Well done to Joan, who won the duck race with the £50 first prize, Karen and Lucy collected the runners-up prizes of £30 and £20. Our thanks to everyone for their support – over £500 was raised for Lions’ charity funds.

This Saturday, the Lions will be running a Jumble Sale, Swap Shop and Fun Day with Stalls at Peasedown St John Youth Hub. This is a new venture for the group. To find out more, ring the organisers, Margaret on: 01761 437185 or Sarah on: 01761 437851. You may even be able to bring your own stall!

Back to Midsomer Norton Fayre, and hundreds of local schoolchildren also took part in a hard-fought Maypole Festival competition to kick off the event after it was opened by local BBC radio presenter, Simon Parkin. There was also a highly competitive Town Show, with categories receiving more entries than ever before.

Overall results were as follows – Town Show Trophy: 1st Annie Davenport, 2nd Diane Lawrence and Carole Morgan, 3rd Wendy Treasure. School’s Trophy: 1st St John’s, 2nd St Benedict’s, 3rd Welton Primary and Midsomer Norton Primary. Shop Window Display: 1st Cats Protection, Care & Share, 3rd Out of Asia. Section Results – Section A Vegetables: 1st Rosemary Blatchford, 2nd Annie Davenport, 3rd Carole Morgan. Section B Flowers: 1st Lynn Plumley, 2nd Wendy Treasure, 3rd Selina Ashman. Section C Cookery: 1st Diane Lawrence, 2nd Janet Brimacombe, 3rd Nick Waton. Section D, Men Only: 1st Noel Avis, 2nd Phil Caple, 3rd Ian Simmons and Richard Robertson. Section E Handicrafts: Bernice Drew, Margaret Johnson, Lucy Wise, Joan Lee and Sue Russell. Section F, Art and Photography: 1st Jean Cowley, 2nd Ivy Goatcher, 3rd Janice Cuer. Section G Children’s: 1st Erin Nash (KS1) & Oliver Aldred (KS2), 2nd Milo and Thomas Aldred (KS1), Benjy (KS2), 3rd Paige and Jessica (KS2).

The volunteer-led event was the fifth edition of the Fayre, and is run by the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and involves input from over fifty community groups. The event is made possible thanks to core grant funding from the Town Council, as well as many of the local High Street businesses.

Meanwhile, crowds were also gathering in the High Street for the third Annual M-Fest – a day of live music featuring up-and-coming local talent. Performing on a lorry-stage provided by Massey Wilcox, the afternoon/evening event saw seven bands performing to the crowds, five of whom were boasting members from Midsomer Norton.

Rotary Talent Show 2017 winners, GUTS, performed first – the duo of Millie Noble and Daniel Cox taking on a number of popular, modern indie-rock songs. Dan returned to the stage half an hour later to play another set with his other covers band, Hughmungous. The Hollies Garden was alive with the Notting Hill Carnival-esque sounds of Stack Up Soundsystem, with Nortonite, Ali Sykes, behind the decks.

Taking to the stage at 3 p.m., The Journal’s own Stan Bull played with new group, Abstract Typography, who made their Midsomer Norton debut, along with Bath-based indie band, The Shuks, whose set was well-received in the late-afternoon sun.

By far the biggest crowd of the day, however, was for Troy Ellis – one of the sons of the legendary Alton Ellis OD. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Troy used to perform on the streets from a young age, and history repeated itself this year, as Troy got down from the stage where his band were set up to sing and dance with the audience in the middle of the road! Such was the response from the crowd, that the group played a fifteen-minute encore.

Two other groups with members from Midsomer Norton saw the evening off in style. Both the upbeat folk-swagger of The Publicans and the soulful croons of Verdisa kept audiences engaged as the sun set on a harmonious day of live music. Alex Davis, Midsomer Norton Community Trust Manager, said: “We are delighted with this year’s event. A massive thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors and musicians who made this celebration of local live music possible.

“Also, a special mention to everyone who attended. We had wonderfully positive crowds enjoying themselves in the sun. Long may it continue.”

M-Fest was organised by the Community Trust and made possible by a commissioning grant from Midsomer Norton Town Council and the support local businesses.

Fayre Day photos: Becky Brooks

M-Fest photos: Richard Sykes