Despite torrential rain just a week before the event, despite entirely false rumours that it had been cancelled for the first time in its 17-year history and despite potential ‘event fatigue’ between the Jubilee and the Olympics, Milland Rural Fair not only went ahead on Sunday 17 June – it also exceeded all expectations. The day itself was breezy and unexpectedly sunny, the crowds were as big as ever and took advantage of the earlier opening time, and virtually everything went to plan (eventually).
Last-minute installation of vehicle matting on what had threatened to be a very slippery grass surface was well worth the investment and not a single exhibitor’s vehicle needed towing out of trouble during setting up. Setting up and ‘building’ the Main Field were hugely helped by the timely and generous weekend loan of a JCB Workmax, courtesy of Greenplant.
The entire Main Field layout had been reorganised continually during the week before the Fair because the torrential rain had made one of the two fields unusable and also because of belated requirements from the district council’s environmental health officers. The team did their best to accommodate exhibitors who had originally been allocated pitches in the second field, but sadly had to cancel larger and noisier exhibits such as archery, funfairs, bouncy castles and demonstrations of heavy forestry machinery. Among the casualties was a display of 17 vintage stationary engines, brought together under the umbrella of Vintage Engine Restoration Workshop masterminded by Mark Tewkesbury, which disappointingly had to be whittled down to two just before the Fair because of ground conditions. The South Downs Vintage Tractors Club display was also at risk but with very strong winds on the eve of the Fair the Main Field dried out enough for a good vintage tractor turnout to be pulled together overnight and, in what has become a Milland tradition, they were able to start the Main Ring programme rolling with their parade.
Another big disappointment was that, due to the unusually strict and belated environmental health requirements from Chichester District Council, the important charity SERV was not able to sell its customary Milland spit-roast lamb to raise funds for the wonderful ‘Blood Runner’ motorcyclists who ferry blood to hospitals. The council was also the reason for the Garden Cider Company (who help people to make cider from home-grown apples) having to cancel, as it was not possible for them to have a temporary events licence in time.
On-the-morning cancellations by one or two Main Ring events were quickly overcome and the organisers are particularly grateful to Charles Homan, of Trotton, who conjured up an instant team of horses and riders for an exciting Chase-Me-Charlie. Charles was also responsible for the ever-popular Terrier Racing and for commentary while the South Downs Bloodhounds were in the Ring. Other Ring events went ahead as planned and Milland was particularly pleased to welcome a team of heavy horses (shown in hand by Sara Billinghurst) for the first time in many years.
An innovation at this year’s Rural Fair was a Tree Trail involving climbing, rope-walking and abseiling, set up by Adventure Unlimited of Brighton alongside their always popular Climbing Wall. In contrast Anthony Hooker spent the afternoon hand-turning his traditional Dobby Ride for the smaller children, with its colourfully painted horses and evocative organ music.
The very wide range of woodland craft demonstrations and a good collection of assorted livestock and small animals were essential to the Fair’s strong rural theme. The rest of the Main Field was crowded with displays and stalls of every kind – the organising team managed to accommodate about 150 different pitches.
Milland Rural Fair is run entirely by village volunteers with the intention primarily of giving its visitors a really good day out and secondly to raise money for Milland community groups, especially for its own bimonthly Milland News. We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteer helpers, to all the exhibitors and above all to the public who made the blood, sweat and tears of organising such a complex event in a difficult year so very worthwhile.
Please watch the highlights here
The Rural Fair is run entirely by volunteers and all funds raised go to support our community newspaper or to help local and charitable causes.
Please watch the highlights here
The Rural Fair is run entirely by volunteers and all funds raised go to support our community newspaper or to help local and charitable causes.
Milland Rural Fair is a family day out with something for everyone. We have kept to our original idea from 1996 of making the Fair a true country event where anyone who wants to can join in, talk to the exhibitors, watch craftsmen at work or meet the animals … in short, actually experience the country. We always give everyone a warm welcome and talk to as many exhibitors and visitors as we can.
Our next Rural Fair will be in 2014
Our next Rural Fair will be in 2014
