Helicopter rides prove a highlight of successful fete (From Cotswold Journal)

Helicopter rides prove a highlight of successful fete

10:51am Thursday 25th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Bourton-on-the-Hill church fete 30 years ago was a mixture of the old and the new, with the traditional sideshows and stalls on the lawn on one hand and helicopter rides on the other.

The Journal of 1979 reported: “The fete, which made a net profit of £1,010, was opened by Mrs Susanna Peake, of Sezincote House.

“Mrs Peake recalled how she began her lessons in Bourton-on-the-Hill and later spent the first years of her married life at Smithy Cottage in the village.

“She said how much she admired the people of Bourton-on-the Hill for their great community spirit, so sadly lacking in many larger towns, and congratulated them on putting on such an excellent fete.

“A bouquet was presented to Mrs Peake by Helen Marie Hunt, aged nine, and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Arthur Hicks, chairman of the fete committee.

“The Rector, the Rev Sydney Lambert, welcomed Mrs Peake and also thanked Mr Hicks and his committee and Mr and Mrs Michael Watson-Smythe for allowing the use of Bourton House gardens.

“It was Mr Watson-Smythe who offered the services of his £90,000 Jet Ranger helicopter for the afternoon, thus enabling the locals to see their village from a new angle at £5 a time. The helicopter, which took off from a field across the road from Bourton House, was looked after by a professional ground crew from Air Hanson.

“Free rides in the helicopter were also given to the local police, who controlled the traffic, and to Moreton Fire Brigade who turned up at the fete with their new fire engine.

“Other attractions included Blockley Brass Band and dancing by the ‘Wee Reelers’.

“An unusual stall was manned by Simon Lawrence, 19, of Eden Cottage, Bourton-on-the-Hill, who was selling his drawings of the village and other places in the North Cotswolds.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)