Thousands attend Henley May Fayre

Thousands of people attended Henley May Fayre yesterday (Monday).

The annual celebration was held in Market Place and had old fashioned fairground rides and games, food and drink stalls, charity representatives and visits from local organisations.

Mayor Michelle Thomas opened the fayre by thanking everyone for coming and reading out the itinerary.

People played coconut shy, hook the duck and children had a go on the teacups and ferris wheel. Others learned more about local organisations like the Henley branch of the Royal British Legion and the Young Farmers’ Society.

Crowds gathered by the foot of the town hall to watch the Maypole dancing display, performed by children from performing arts school Steph’s Dancing Divas and Dudes.

The Ellington Morris group then performed traditional music and dances, followed by singer Blondie who covered a variety of pop songs ranging from Adele to Gala. The crowd danced along and many children went up “onstage” to join her.

Councillor Thomas judged this year’s fancy dress competition for children aged between five and 11 which had a royal coronation theme. Six-year-old Rose Mackinder, of Wyndale Close, Henley, won the competition dressed as a queen and received a certificate and big box of sweets. 

The Laughing Ants jazz-fusion band played music throughout the day and the bubble fairy and stilt-walker from the Enchanted Players Theatre Company returned to entertain the children.

Cllr Thomas said the event was a “huge success”. She said: “It has been great to see so many people out and the children enjoying themselves.”

For the full story and more pictures, see this week’s Henley Standard.