Song and dance take centre stage at annual summer fair

MAYPOLE dancing made its debut at this year’s Shiplake summer fair.

More than a dozen pupils from the village primary school performed routines they had learned with Year 5 teacher Amy White on Saturday afternoon in Memorial Field.

However, a hiccup with the timing meant some of the ribbons became twisted on the pole, prompting the children to restart their routine.

The pupils were split into two groups to form an inner and outer circle for parts of the routine weaving ribbons in different formations.

Amelie Ransom, nine, who is in Year 4, said it was fun to be involved despite it not going smoothly the first time.

She said: “We have to hold it really tight and it did not go as planned and you need to get the timing right. Someone forgot what they were meant to be doing. It was quite stressful but we still had lots of fun.

“We have been practising for about a month. At the start, it was difficult but after a few practices it was fun.”

Villagers clapped and cheered the dancers as they stood or watched from hay bales allocated around the perimeter of the performance area.

The event has so far raised more than £3,000 including company match-funding for Shiplake Primary School and the Little Squirrels nursery through a combination of ticket sales, stalls and games.

Attractions included a “human fruit machine”, face-painting and “splat the rat”.

New for this year was a water play area which the Shiplake parent teacher association introduced because of the heat.

The committee decided to forgo the giant inflatables this year because the generators posed a risk of overheating.

Children took part in a “wacky boat” competition after being tasked with building a small boat which would float in a paddling pool.

The award for the best boat went to Emilia Johnson, five, from Harpsden, who is in reception at the primary school.

She said: “I used wrapping paper. I make boats like this with my grandpa when we go to the river in Wales. I like when I use colours.”

Tabitha Dunn, seven, who also attends Shiplake primary, made an upcycled boat using a milk carton, cardboard confectionery box and an egg-box to hold up the flag.

She said: “My favourite bit about making it was drawing and making the pirate’s head.”

The dog show, which is held every year, was cancelled due to the hot weather.

Emma Cook, 12, from Gillotts School, said she was sad not to be entering her Labradoodle Crumble, who is seven.

She said: “We entered him last year and the year before. My friends were a bit sad as well because it’s so fun watching it.”

Soraya Stender, entered her cocker spaniel Otis in the best male dog category last year and the sausage-catching competition, which he won. She said it was disappointing not to be taking part after he had just been groomed in preparation.

She said: “It’s a bit sad but it was very, very hot so they would have got tired and their paws would have really hurt, especially walking on Tarmac.”

Following the maypole dancing, Goring & Streatley Concert Band performed a selection of pop music and songs from musicals including Les Misérables, Encanto and Oklahoma!

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the band, which play woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, played In the Mood by Glenn Miller and a medley of his songs.

After their first set, a downpour caused some members to congregate under umbrellas before they began their next performance. Conductor Claire Salmon, from Goring, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be invited to perform. We were asked to do a number of songs given the VE Day celebrations and we tried to pick music appropriate to that era.

“It’s lovely to see the community come out and be a part of this and to see them enjoying themselves. To have an appreciative audience is lovely.

“The Met Office has been our friend as we watched various heat and weather warnings but a lot of work has gone into this by so many people.”

Nikki Dyer, who chairs the parent teacher association at the school, said it was a shame the dog show had been cancelled.

She said: “Chris Furley, the mobile vet from Henley, was going to judge and he and the school PTA agreed it wouldn’t be responsible given the forecast.

“People had expressed an interest and it’s one of those things a lot of people come specifically for. It was a responsible decision but it was not easy. With the heat, it just wouldn’t have been sensible.

“We were a bit nervous that given the extreme heat predicted, people might stay away but what has been really nice is we’ve had a really good turnout.

“It’s definitely much more aimed at kids than it was a few years ago and we’ve got a lot of children who aren’t from the villages that come in so it’s bringing people from further afield. Last year, it was threatening to thunder.”