Blue skies bring out the crowds for village fete

IT is tradition that the Woodcote fete is opened every year by the ringing of a church bell.

But St Leonard’s remained silent for the second year running.

The church, in South Stoke Road, had a stall at the annual event on Saturday as volunteers are trying to raise £12,000 to fix the Victorian-era bell, which requires a new clapper.

It was selling knitting, plants and “lucky bags” to raise the money, which will also pay for a new toilet in the church.

Rev David Benskin said it would mean a “huge amount” to see the bell restored.

He said: “Not having the bell ring at special occasions is huge. It’s a sad thing that it has been missing from the village.

“People have been asking why they can’t hear it, especially at things like the fete.”

Rev Benskin took over from Rev Linda Smith in 2023 after she stepped down following 13 years of service.

He joked: “It’s my fault, I must have rung the bell too much when I first arrived.”

Rev Benskin said the stall raised around £300 and had a very positive reaction. He said: “The whole day was very good. The weather held off wonderfully, which was good as we were very nervous for a storm.”

The fete, which took place on the recreation ground behind the village hall, attracted about 500 people throughout the day.

The set-up included live music and games for children, including space hopper races and giant lego bricks as well as stalls from community groups.

Inside the village hall the craft and produce show saw its highest ever amount of entries and showcased homegrown vegetables, fruit and flowers as well as baked goods, art, photography and handicrafts.

There was a number of food and drinks stalls and a barbecue run by the Red Lion Pub in Goring sold out by 2.30pm.

Stephen Little, from Woodcote, came with his grandson Jayme Collins, 11, and his father James who were visiting from Herne Bay in Kent. Stephen who moved to the village in the Eighties, said: “It’s great and the band is fantastic. It’s a good thing to get all the villagers together.”

Terry and Peter Summers, from Caversham, came with their grandchildren Noah, four, and Grace, eight, who live in Woodcote.

Mr Summers said: “It’s brilliant. It’s nice to see the community spirit.”

He added that it was nice to see the sun come out after wet weather plagued other parts of the region.

Mr Summers said: “Every year we come to this and every year it rains but we have got away with it today.”

Zara Leivesley and Ethan Davidson, both 16, were helping serve teas, coffees and cakes as part of a stall set up by 1st Goring Heath Scouts.

Zara, who has been involved in scouting for more than 10 years, described the day as a bit “chaotic” as the stand had been very busy.

Woodcote WI was running a stall selling second-hand books as well as a children’s lucky dip.

The members wore purple sashes to mark the 110th anniversary of the Women’s Institute in Britain. The group was founded in Canada in 1897 and was brought to Britain in 1915 to encourage women to produce food during the First World War.

Ann Larden, the group’s vice-president, said: “We all joke that we feel 110 years old sometimes. But it’s amazing really and it’s an amazing organisation.”

Sarah Wilson, 52, one of the event organisers, said: “The forecast showed it was going to rain. We were all thinking we were going to get at least one downpour. But for a lot of the time we had blue skies.

“It just makes such a difference, not only with the turnout but keeping people there.”

Ms Wilson, who lives in Beech Lane, said she would like to thank the event’s sponsors, which included the Booker family at church farm, Soha and The Oratory School.

She added: “Everyone attends the fete. You see everyone doing the tug of war and watching the dog show and it’s just a really lovely event.”

All profits from the fete will go towards the upkeep of the village hall.