When it was suggested to the Friends of Ifton Meadows that we organise a summer fair we had all imagined a warm summer’s day, a gentle breeze, and wall to wall blue sky! When the day dawned we all thought the worst; the heavens were black, the hills were shrouded in cloud and rain and no-one was sure what the day would bring. But people arrived on the field and followed through on their intention to get together and have a great day.

The weather was still looking doubtful when George, (nails in straw man) arrived wearing his hat. “It never rains when I wear this hat” said George and we all knew it would be OK!  And so it was. Our Chairperson, Ann Williams, welcomed everyone. Leanne Edwards, our May Queen, duly cut the ribbon to open the Fair and we were up and running.

Everyone said they had a good time. New friendships were made and old ones renewed. The 5-aside football was a hit with the lads and the spectators, with our own Cherry Tree team taking the Winners Medals. Wrexham took the title of most improved team and Nantwich was runner up. We were well entertained on the field by the dancer SANDRAvers Linedancers who performed several dances.

It was great to see the village’s own Ifton Brass Band back in the village and playing centre stage. Many people said it was good to be able to see and hear them performing again.  There were motorcycles, veteran cars, our local police vehicles, our own First Responders and the Oswestry fire engine. The field was certainly colourful.

The tug of war was quite a spectacle! “The Ifton Meadows team were marginally beaten by a somewhat more youthful team from the Institute. The Ifton Meadows team had thought that if we won the competition it would be a good advert for our Green Gym (which we hold on the first Sunday afternoon of every month down at Ifton Meadows....All Welcome!).

Eventually both the Lonsdale Lions and the “Put a Donk on it” were beaten and were forced to join Ifton in watching the grand final between “The Drunken Skunks” from the Institute and “The Winners”. “The Drunken Skunks were the winners and took the trophy. “The Winners” lost! I’d like to say a big thank you to all the teams who took part.

The football medals, the tug of war trophy, raffle prizes and children’s’ competition prizes were all presented by our May Queen at the end of the afternoon.
The Ifton Meadows Raffle prize winning numbers were : 319 White £100 Stans Shopping Voucher 56 Orange Bottle of Welsh Whisky 291 White Bottle of Wine

I would particularly like to hear from anyone who managed to take a photograph of the ladies from the W.I., the Monday Cub, the Craft Guild and Ifton Meadows who, during the strongest of the afternoons gusts of wind, were seen hanging on to the main marquee in order to stop it blowing away.

We have to particularly thank the local business that supported the day, the organisations and clubs that provided equipment ranging from marquees to tea urns. It was good to see the traditional village organisations representing themselves on the field. (I understand that several recruited new members.) We especially thank the emergency services that were present. Also a very special thank you to the people who gave their time on the day. Our small, but growing, band of volunteers who manned stalls and games, the people who fetched and carried, and made it happen.

The final thanks go to the people who came to the field on the day. The children, the parents, the grannies and granddads, the friends and neighbours. I thank you for helping to make it a successful community event.

Ann Williams Chair Friends of Ifton Meadows

Attendees                                                                        

First Responders

Football Organisers Shaun, Dai, & Claire                        

West Mercia Police   

George Millington & friends'  veteran cars & bikes                                                                                     

Harry Hamilton'd Birds of Prey

Woodlands Ice Cream

St Martins Face Painters

Zai Fox's Funfair

Ifton Brass Band

St Martins Historians                                                                 

St Martins Parish Church                                                                           Sponsors

St Martins Parish Council                                                                                         

St Martins Scouting Organisations                                                            Friends of Ifton Meadows

The Craft Guild                                                                                           Icon Hair and Beauty

The DancerSANDRAvers Linedancing Club                                                Stans Superstore                            The Monday Club                                                                                        St Martins Parish Council

The Women’s Institute                                                                               Trisha’s of Oswestry

The Youth Club                                                                                           Wipak UK Ltd  Welshpool

The Wrexham Heritage Group                                                                   Woodcocks Newsagent                

 Friends of Ifton Meadows                              

I apologies if anyone has been omitted or names are incorrectly spelt.