A VIOLENT hailstorm failed to dampen the spirits at Chawton’s annual fete and horticultural show, which raised a thumping £3,537.38 for village organisations.

Held in the grounds of Prowtings, by kind permission of Tom and Jenny Perring, with parking in the field behind the village hall, courtesy of David Whitaker, the event has been hailed “another great day and a great success”.

The Chawton fete committee has expressed grateful thanks to the ‘Old Man Friday Gang’ (and one lady) who set up the gazebos and tents, and to “the stallholders and volunteers who helped to organise, set up and run the fete and clear up at the end, including Richard Pink and Simon Hadley for the transport, and Simon for supplying the gazebos.

Thanks go also to Fran and Trevor Jones, of The Greyfriar pub, for the beer tent, Nick Benham and his team for the barbecue, and to everyone who donated prizes and equipment, needed to make the fete go with a swing.

Grateful thanks also to Peter Holland for his NG TF classic car, Peter Stevens for his classic Land Rovers, the Solent MG owners club, Martin Kitching for the parking cones and target football, Mary Knight for her Safecracker game, and the McKells for the crockery smashing stall.

A “big thank you” has been recorded also to the sponsors: Redemptorist’s Publications for printing the advertising posters, Jone and Jones landscape gardeners of Four Marks and A&G Engineering Alton, and the sponsoring of the Hampshire Regency Dancers by Anthony (Jumbo) Fuller.

In addition, a quiz, held at The Greyfriar and compiled Richard Duval, and the auctioning of a Mick Williams painting, contributed £225 to the running of the fete.

According to the committee, the only mishap was a Mini losing its exhaust pipe on leaving the parking field!

The overall profit from the event is to be shared out, with each village organisation receiving £393.04. They include St Nicholas Church, Chawton Pre-School, Chawton Cricket Club, Chawton WI, Chawton Village Hall, the Mother and Toddler Group, Chawton School Support, and the children’s Christmas party. Chawton Horticultural Society relinquished their share of the profits.

The results of the novelty dog show, run by Mary Fairley, were:

Waggiest tail: Duke - Diana Tennyson (Four Marks)

Best veteran: Kipper - Tom Perring (Chawton)

Best trick: Roxy (Border Collie) - Gina Croft (Bentworth)

Best condition: Edward - Joanne White (Four Marks)

Best child handler: Kipper - Lola Perring (Chawton)

Best rescue dog: Duke - Diana Tennyson (Four Marks)

Best in Show: Duke - Diana Tennyson (Four Marks), who was awarded a grooming voucher donated by Angela Shakespeare of Dapper Dogs, Chawton.