Midsummer Fayre 2008
This year's Midsummer Fayre took place on Saturday 28th June around Wellington's Market Square and All Saints Church lawns. Introduced by the town crier and with a host of stalls set up outside the parish church, this annual event is inspired by the ancient June fayres that were being held in Wellington as far back as the 13th century, and the town's annual 'Jubilee' celebrations of the 1770s. For photos of the 2008 fayre,
LOTTERY GRANT SUCCESS
This year's event was made possible by funding from the National Lottery's Awards for All scheme. The grant enabled us to pay for extra entertainments and activities (including a circus skills tent) as well as a series of craft and performance workshops in local primary schools in the run up to the fayre.
FAYRE ENTERTAINMENTS IN 2008
MUSIC: Folk music came courtesy of Odd Socks Folk Band, a top local ceilidh band, with Wellington Brass Band and Shropshire Male Chorus both representing musical traditions that have also been historically prominent in this part of the world. The Wrekin Recorder Consort showcased the medieval roots of the modern recorder, and the Concord String Quartet performed music from the Baroque and Classical genres.
DANCING: The Shrewsbury Morris Dancers provided an exciting mix of traditional Border Morris and innovative dance styles with strong musical support. Shrewsbury Morris consist of The Shrewsbury Bull and Pump Morris Men, The Shrewsbury Lasses and Shrewsbury Clog, all with their own distinctive style.
STREET PERFORMANCE: Stilt-walking, balloon-modelling, club-juggling Jack Green the Jester evoked the street theatre of old with his impressive fire show. Jack and his friends also ran a circus skills tent in front of the Parish Church, where children tried juggling and other activities for themselves. Also present were The Loyal Newport Volunteers who, like our own Wellington Fencibles, were formed in 1803 to help resist an anticipated French Invasion. Purely ceremonial these days, we sense that the Newports are nonetheless ready should the French get any funny ideas!
STALLS & CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS: Outside the parish church were around 20 stalls selling homemade cakes, confectionary, honey & preserves; books & paintings; plants & woodcrafts, textiles, jewellery & other products made in Shropshire. There were also demonstrations from wool-spinners and a traditional pole-lathe turner.
THE REVIVAL OF THE JUBILEE PROCESSION
The highlight of the day, this short promenade from the parish church to Market Square and back included many of the same costumed characters who appeared in the procession of 1773, along with a handful of other local Georgian personalities. Here are a few characters that visitors were able to look out for:
Venus, Bacchus & Flora (from Roman mythology)Harlequin & Columbine (from ‘Italian Comedy’ popular in 18th century England)King George III & Queen CharlotteDr William Withering and the Wise Woman who inspired his discovery of the drug digitalisThe Plimer Brothers, renowned miniaturist painters who were sons of a Wellington clockmakerSir George Downing, high living rake who was raised by his uncle Lord Forester atDothill Hall in Wellington
Mr Edward Houlston, town book seller of the 1770s and founder of a familybusiness that became a major publishing firm in the early 19th century
FAYRE PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 28th JUNE 2008
Throughout the day, 10am - 2.30pm:
Market stalls and craft demonstrations in All Saints churchyard
Circus skills and craft tent in the churchyard
‘Jubilee Breakfast’ of tea, coffee, squash and homemade cakes served from inside the church
Displays about the history and life of All Saints, past and present, inside the church
10am - 11am:
Town crier rings in the Midsummer Fayre, 10am
Shropshire Male Chorus outside church, 10am
Wrekin Recorder Consort & Concord Strings in the Square, 10am
Wrekin View School Choir inside the church, 10.30am
11am - 12 noon:
Jack the Jester’s fire show in the Square, 11am
Odd Socks Folk Band outside church, 11.15am
Morris dancing begins in the Square, 11.45am
12 noon - 1pm:
12 - 12.15pm: Loyal Newport Volunteers lead the short ‘Jubilee Pageant’ from the churchyard through the Square back
Jack the Jester’s street entertainment continues
Morris dancing in the Square, 12.30pm
1pm - 2pm:
Morris dancing in the Square until 1.30pm
Driftwood Folk Band continues outside church until 1.15pm
Wellington Community Windband inside the church from 1.15pm
Jack the Jester’s street entertainment continues
Wellington Brass Band strike up outside the church at 1.45pm
2pm - 3pm:
Wellington Brass Band continues, rounding off the Fayre at 2.30pm
Rounding off the day at this year's event was the Midsummer Barn Dance at Wrockwardine Village Hall. Music was provided by Odd Socks celidh band, and guests enjoyed a Shropshire-sourced barbecue, Shropshire real ale and even Shropshire wine from the vineyard at nearby Wroxeter.
