Flashmob surprises village festival

In the middle of the festival, all of the school’s pupils suddenly stopped what they were doing when they heard the first bars of Uptown Funk on the loudspeaker. They ran to the centre and danced and sang together – the younger ones being choreographed by the older ones. The children – unbeknown to their parents - had been practising for weeks and there was barely a dry eye in the crowd.

Early indications are that the festival, which raises money for the books and equipment for the children, will have filled the school’s coffers to the tune of about £5,400.

The festival was opened by the school’s May Queen, accompanied by her entourage of the Green Man, a Chimney Sweep and Crown Bearer, and followed by a procession of all the children in the school. The May Queen was driven in a 1929 Lea Francis from the school to the village green.

The day began with a display of Maypole dancing, to traditional and modern music, and game parents joined in with the final dance…much to the amusement of onlookers as paths (and ribbons) were well and truly crossed.

Following a school country dancing display, the school Rock Choir to the stage and gave attendees a sneak preview of their performance at the Weald Music Festival at the Hawth later this month.

In the flaming June sunshine, two local bands took to the stage as parents and children chilled out on picnic blankets and chairs. Brighton band The Blues Issue was the first to be cheered before Wisborough Green’s own Rock Docteurs gave a rollicking finale performance.

With dozens of stalls – including a cardboard arcade made and manned by the children in Year 5, a display of vintage cars, a visit from the local fire brigade, an hilarious tug of war battle, giant inflatables and great refreshments, the event was a huge success – a fitting farewell to outgoing headmistress Mrs Trudy Emberson, who leaves the school at the end of term.

Report contributed by Vanda Rumney. Pictures by Kate Henwood.