St Michael's summer fair

The voices belonged to young choristers from Pebsham School. The entertainers had come to play their part in a corporate effort aimed at raising as much money as possible for St Michael's.

The aim is to make the church accessible to all. To achieve genuine wheelchair access and to do away with the present temporary wooden ramp over the front steps on the south side involves widening and adapting the north door.

Together with other associated work at the west end of the church, this could cost between 25,000 and 30,000.

Saturday's summer fair was blessed with good weather. School choristers and a host of other attractions drew a large crowd of supporters.

The Vicar, the Rev David King, was sportingly taking his turn to have wet sponges thrown at him.

"Twenty pence a time or three for 50p" he said - explaining that there had been no shortage of takers.

Supporters were enjoying morning coffee and refreshments in both church halls. There was a plant stall, a book stall and a clarinetist to welcome visitors at the end of the drive.

The aroma of barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers drifted over from the Vicarage garden, where there were ice pops and jewellery on sale and the chance for 20p to locate the pirates' hidden gold.

The church field was packed with stalls and sideshows.

Bric a brac, ball games, face-painting, clothing, tombola and raffle - all the fun of the fair added up to a profit of 1,700 towards the planned church improvements.

The summer fair was opened by Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon.