Gordon and Bambi

Sue Stick at bell practice for the church service

As you can imagine, a lot of planning and hard graft goes on each year in the run up to the Feast. From February onwards, the Committee is in Feast mode. It's not all work though...this year for example we had a Pimms tasting, and the Feast Committee Christmas dinner was great fun. The Committee meetings are lively, social affairs, and we're always looking for new members. Please let Clive or Karen  know if you are interested in joining us (clivehayden@btopenworld.com) or kas_stageman@hotmail.com

 Lots of people help out with the Feast who are not on the Committee. Every year, Reg Daniels sets up the floodlights for the Church and The Women's Guild arranges the flowers. John Workman of Sheepscombe donates a deer, culled by Tony Marsh of Uley and stored by John Watts at Upton. John is also the Flockmaster, and he brings some of his sheep to The Pound for Feast weekend (This year they gave John, Jennifer and Peter Bass the fun of gathering them in when they escaped). Celia Hicks-Beach donates the wood for the fire that roasts the deer, which is tended by Gordon Bircher and his helpers. These are just a few of the people who work behind the scenes to ensure that the Feast goes to plan.

"And what's it all for?" you may ask. Well, the Cranham Feast is an old tradition dating back to the 1600s, so it's good for tradition's sake. But maybe more importantly, the aim of the Feast Committee is to raise money to plough back into the village. Previously the money has paid for new bell ropes, to help redecorate the School Hall, to buy new tables for the Village Hall, to support the new website...lots of good causes. 

Jethro and daughters in The Pound

 

Jennifer Watts tidying the Churchyard

Ann Green arranging the flowers in the Church

The final touches are made to the Feast Dinner tables