St Paul’s Summer Fete took place on Saturday 12^th July, a perfect summer’s day. The event was a happy summer celebration bringing joy and laughter to the many parishioners and members the local community in attendance.

The fete opened at 11 am with a rousing bagpipe serenade outside our Community Centre front door, played by local piper Callum.  Straight away the fun began with arts, crafts, games, activities, food and refreshments throughout all the rooms of the Centre and garden. Children especially, with mums, dads and carers, had a wonderful time playing inflatable bowling, ‘tin can alley’, family bingo and ‘human fruit machine’; enjoying timeless favourites like ‘name the teddy’ and ‘hook the duck’; as well as making some incredible aeroplanes!

There was a wide range of arts and crafts with friendship bracelets, Mexican Gods’ Eyes, Guatemalan Worry Dolls, painting and badge making all available. A big thank you to our brilliant volunteers who supervised and facilitated these activities, and a special thanks to our wonderful Girl Guides and their leaders who supported us in planning and on the day.

Outdoors in the garden, the bouncy castle was in demand all day and was the scene of some impressive youthful ‘gymnastics’ performed to a soundtrack of constant laughter and giggles; all under the watchful supervision of Claire, Sylvia, and Margaret (to whom grateful thanks). On the sporting side, there was table football in the main hall and a table tennis tournament organised by Benoit.  Meanwhile, outside again, adults and children alike enjoyed story telling under the umbrellas at the ‘patio’ tables with a refreshing cup of tea, squash, ice cream or a beer in hand.

The delicious barbecue was very generously provisioned by Helen and Mike Lowe, Churchwarden, who served sumptuous sausages in a roll and juicy burgers (from our local Southfields butchers) to an appreciative and approving clientele of adults and kids.  Big shout out to Helen and Mike for labouring over hot charcoal in 30C heat!

In the lounge there were teas, coffees and delightful cakes served all day as well as juice and ice creams, all beautifully presented.  Thank you to our volunteer staff of Christine and Eve for running the show in the café. 

Pimm’s was available in the garden with thanks to Anne and Bob for mixing a perfect seasonal thirst quencher. Those with a taste for something a little stronger were suitably refreshed at the ‘beer tent’ where Sambrook’s beers were served including Wandle Bitter and a cool Pilsner, which proved very popular on such a hot day.  Our thanks and appreciation go to our friends at Sambrook’s Brewery in Wandsworth for their generous support.

The day ended with a grand raffle where generous prizes, kindly donated by local businesses and Community Centre groups, were up for grabs. The star prize was a Bayley & Sage hamper, ideal for a summer picnic.

We are delighted to announce that this most enjoyable and happy fete on a beautiful summer’s day raised over £860 towards the redecoration of our Community Centre main hall.  Thank you to all who came along, those who helped out, and especially to Sam Egan, Community Centre Manager, without whose vision, dedication and hard work – both in the planning and on the day – we could not have hoped to have enjoyed such a summer success.