Home   Sudbury   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Community fete at Cavendish, near Sudbury, more popular than ever with addition of straw-stuffed celebrities




An eye-catching cast of characters greeted visitors to Cavendish at the weekend as the village staged its first-ever scarecrow festival alongside the annual community fete.

Residents put their straw-stuffed creations - ranging from a spaceman to Bo-Peep to EastEnders Peggy Mitchell - on display in a four day trail, while business and clubs joined in during Saturday’s fete to raise money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The fete run by Cavendish Community Council included dozens of stalls, a fun dog show, races, and an egg-throwing contest. It made around £3,800 for their funds which support local groups and events.

Battling for victory in the tug of war. Photo from Cavendish Magazine
Battling for victory in the tug of war. Photo from Cavendish Magazine

Organiser Peter Walton said: “It went brilliantly and was more popular than ever. We try hard to make it a real traditional village fete.”

Villagers and visitors flocked to the village green to enjoy attractions including a tug of war, sack races, a bottle stall tombola … plus the chance to compete in a wresting contest in sumo suits. “We hadn’t a clue how that was going to go, but it was incredibly popular especially with children,” said Peter.

“The egg throwing contest – where pairs of contestants throw eggs to each other and try not to drop them –took place at the end of the day. Everyone ends up egg-splattered and it tends to be the local cricketers who do best.

Education through the ages at Cavendish Primary School
Education through the ages at Cavendish Primary School

“Running the fete is hard work but we have a group of people who are very willing to help set up and clear away afterwards.

“I’d also like to thank landowners Brian Harvey, Peter Maddever, and Jenny and Andrew Clarke who allowed their fields to be used for parking.

Ellie Ling, who organised the scarecrow festival, said the response had been outstanding, and the imagination and enthusiasm shown was fantastic.

Flymo to the Moon - a spaceman gets busy on a garden hedge
Flymo to the Moon - a spaceman gets busy on a garden hedge
From the Queen Vic to the Five Bells - EastEnders' Peggy Mitchell reigns supreme outside the village pub
From the Queen Vic to the Five Bells - EastEnders' Peggy Mitchell reigns supreme outside the village pub
Cavendish fete drew crowds to the village green. Photo from Cavendish Magazine
Cavendish fete drew crowds to the village green. Photo from Cavendish Magazine
A tiger arrives for tea near the village green
A tiger arrives for tea near the village green
A wedding scene greeted passers by in the main street.
A wedding scene greeted passers by in the main street.
A scarecrow bride waits hopefully near the village green.
A scarecrow bride waits hopefully near the village green.
Taking it easy outside Devonshire House care hom
Taking it easy outside Devonshire House care hom
Crows beware ... Worzel Gummidge-style on Greys Close
Crows beware ... Worzel Gummidge-style on Greys Close
Scarecrow festival organiser Ellie Ling and Cavendish Community Council's Nick Young at the fete
Scarecrow festival organiser Ellie Ling and Cavendish Community Council's Nick Young at the fete
Little Bo-Peep finds her sheep in a Cavendish front garden
Little Bo-Peep finds her sheep in a Cavendish front garden

“She decided to stage it after realising how creative local people could be when she ran the village’s first Christmas tree festival last December.

“We have had such positive feedback and hope we might be able to do it again next year,” she said.

Scarecrow-makers taking part paid an entrance fee, but the total raised for the air ambulance would not be known until donations made into sealed buckets on the day had been counted, she added.