VIDEO: Crowds gather to help charity and have fun at Bridwell Park Country Fair

A HEAVY downpour didn’t keep the crowds at home for the

Bridwell Park Country Fair.

Held in the grounds of Lord and Lady Ivar Mountbatten in

Uffculme on Sunday September 5, attractions included nearly 100 stalls, a dog

show organised by the Blue Cross, and other main ring entertainment.

The show also helped celebrate the Battle of Britain’s 70th

anniversary with some military vehicles on display in the classic car show.

Money was collected for the show’s main charity the NSPCC’s Childline,

as well as the Devon Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes.

Mike Hooper who is on the organising committee of the Exe

Valley Rotary Club who organised the show said: “We’re very pleased with how it’s

going, especially after the downpour of rain this morning.”

“It takes around nine months to get it all organised, and at

the end of the day when you see it all come together, and money being raised

for the charities, it makes it all worthwhile.

“We’re trying to improve every year. This time we’ve got ferret

racing and a rock and roll troupe as part of the show.”

Childline will use money raised to help them to answer more

calls from children who phone for advice. Donna Statham from the NSPCC added: “We’ve

got a brilliant turn out and some really nice stalls. There is a lot of good

country produce on sale, and the area is being represented well.

“We’re hoping to raise £10,000 today, and the gates have

been busy with people paying to enter and help the cause.”

Lord Ivar Mountbatten who is a patron of Help for Heroes was

enjoying the day in his grounds. He said: “I’m always very surprised when I

look out of the window in the morning and seeing all the tents.

“It’s a lovely day, and I think everybody enjoys it and this

afternoon the weather has improved people have come out.

“The falconry display was very good, and thought it would have

been very amusing if it came back with one of my chickens.”

Other performers at the show included the George Formby

Society, Lance on his guitar, majorettes and Cogs ‘n’ Wheels.

Pam Emerson from traditional dancing group Cogs ‘n’ Wheels

said: “We’re having a good day here today, we’ve been lucky with the weather,

and listened to some super music from local performers.

“It’s excellent to perform in front of the crowd, and we

tend to come into our own when we’ve got an audience.”

In among the trade stalls the Devon

and Somerset Gliding Club had a raffle for a free flight, welly wanging, and a

cider tent.

Fred Domeloff brought Fredrik’s Swedish Cider which is

brewed in Wiveliscombe to the show. He said: “It’s difficult to introduce our

products into pubs that are tied into contracts, so it’s good to be able to

promote ourselves at events like this.

“We’ve got free tasters on the bar, and people seem to be

really enjoying it, and people want to see local producers supporting events

like this and we must continue to do so.”