Oakley Green, Fifield & District Community Association
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Farewell Fifield Fun Day

Nearly 20 years ago a small fair to raise money for Rosie’s Rainbow was arranged by Gary and Helen and held at the back of the Fifield Inn where they were the landlords. The fair became an annual event and as it grew in popularity a larger venue had to be found. It moved to ‘Blenheim’s’ in Fifield, courtesy of Paul and Tina Berry, and a new committee, led by Andy James, was formed. When he stood down Louise Shenston and Julie-Ann Glover stepped forward. The committee chose two local charities each year (one always for children) to be the main beneficiaries of the profits from the day and many small local good causes have benefitted from substantial donations.

An added attraction was the ability to access the steam trains on the land behind ‘Blenheims’ and eventually the Fun Day moved to Deep Meadows, the home of David and Patricia Buck and the site of the train tracks.

As time went on the Day became more and more popular with the steam trains creating a unique atmosphere and a huge crowd puller. And all that time the event was sustained by the kindness and support of the local community, Lawrence Sword, who donated the PA system, the local scouts and horse rangers who helped on the day and the local men who turned up every year to put up gazebos and fetch and carry the supplies. In 2019 Louise and Julie announced that they could no longer continue to run the Fun Day and so OGAFCA, plus a dynamic team of local residents, formed a new committee.

Every year the committee strove to make the event bigger and better with a small fairground area, a craft village and catering area, but all the old favourites; Punch & Judy, Mr Muddle, Anna Nightingale, Sheryl with swing boats, the ferret racing and the dog show created the continuity that people knew and loved. Last year the show welcomed over 1,700 visitors and raised nearly 10,000 before costs. Sadly, not long after this fantastic event, David Buck, our patron and train enthusiast, sadly lost his long fight with cancer. Since then, the committee and the Buck family have been in consultation and concluded that the Fun Day, without David and his trains, could no longer continue. It was a sad decision but the right one and we have so many treasured memories of a really special and traditional village fair that was enjoyed, over the years, by many thousands of people and raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities.

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Barbara Frame
01753 830806
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