Ball in bog (and traditional games)

HUNDREDS of people attended a family fete at Greys Court on Sunday.

More than 20 stalls and traditional games were set up at the National Trust property for villagers and visitors.

On entering the grassy area outside the main house, there was a display of vintage cars including Porsches, Jaguars and MGs.

A four-piece guitar and ukulele band performed, as did the Goring and Streatley Concert Band, which gave two sets including Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson, Happy by Pharrell Williams and Pure Imagination from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Nikki Stubbs, 50, from Shepherd’s Green, who ran the glitter tattoo stall, said the star and fairy tattoos were a favourite among predominantly younger girls.

She said: “I am a mum who has been a villager. I have done it each year for around eight years.

“I have done this since the kids were little and loved it but now the kids are 14 and 16 and are doing their own thing. Today they are at a lacrosse tournament.”

While some families enjoyed picnics on blankets under trees towards the back of the garden, others enjoyed food provided by stalls, including ice cream. Traditional fair games included hook-a-duck, pin the tail on the donkey, wang-a-welly and splat-the-rat.

An egg and spoon race and ball in the bog were the favourite non-traditional games among the younger children.

David Bourne, 52, from Cane End, said: “It’s a fantastic, chilled-out fair which is great fun for all the family.

“I’m a bit concerned because the children want to throw me in the stocks and throw sponges at me later but ball in the bog is a game that they have enjoyed the most today and they won some sweets.” George Paulin, 11, who helped on the ball in the bog stall, said: “We decided that we wanted to help out the community by doing some fun things, letting kids throw balls in the toilets and winning sweets and chocolates.”

Lauren Potts, 32, from Stoke Row, attended with her husband George and her two children, Eva, two, and Anna, four months.

Mr Potts enjoyed the wang-a-welly game, placing the highest in his age category.

Mrs Potts said: “Living where we do, we try to go to all the village family fetes because there’s so many.

“In all honesty, we’re just trying to keep the toddler entertained and to wear out her energy.

“We’re still in that phase of having young children and getting used to having family days out, so when we see things advertised we try to come to see what it’s like.”