Crowds enjoyed the sunshine at Stretham Feast Weekend

Stretham was awash with the sounds and colour of a festival party that continues a village tradition dating back 118 years.

The Feast weekend was a resounding success helped by good weather and a great crowd who turned out to enjoy a host of activities beginning with a family picnic and barbecue on the village recreation ground.

Parish council clerk Rachel Watts, who sits on the Feast committee, said: “It was absolutely fabulous. We had more people than we expected and lovely sunny weather.

“We start planning thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers and the hard work really paid off this year.”

This year hay bales, spray painted as Minions sitting on the A10, helped draw in the crowds, she added.

On Saturday there was a farmers’ market around the village cross starting and an art and craft market in St James’ Church along with some demonstrations of Morris dancing.

On Feast Day there was an outdoor church service followed by a parade then a fayre on the recreation ground.

Stalls and attractions at the fayre included bubble football, fun fair, hog roast, dog heel work to music, Pickled Pig cider bar, tug of war competition, fun dog show, crockery smash, performances by the Ely Military Band, the Arco Iris Samba band and the Ely Silver Starlets Majorettes.

New to the feast this year was a village show. Categories included sandwich cake with filling, jar of preserves and cupcake decoration.

Stretham’s Feast celebrations started in 1877 in order to raise funds for Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, which, in those days, was dependant on voluntary contributions.

This year money raised during the parade will be donated to EACH –East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices - and looks to be in the region of £500.

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