What is a fete? Leaning upon that well-thumbed tome the Oxford Dictionary I am informed that it is an outdoor public function usually to garner funds for charity.
Carol Grant displays a lovely chapeau at the Fete. Photo: Richard Lummus
What better setting to hold one last Sunday than under the shadow of the tall yacht-mast flagpole that adorns Lauriston Park on Māori Hill – the highest point in what was once the borough of Leamington and later Cambridge?
Under the watchful eye of the immaculate straw boater and striped blazer of the Gaelic Eric Hillerton (once renowned as a dairy industry academic) the Cambridge Brass Band entertained the ‘full house’ attendance of village residents and their families.
The queue for the freshly-served Pimms was evidence of the need for libaceous embellishment which then livened up the proceedings. Many village ladies had toiled hard to create – from a single and common recipe – many scrumptious Victoria sandwich cakes with the mouth-watering winner emerging from the kitchen of Cheryl Whitfield.
Abundant displays of flowers and vegetables included Helen Lacey’s enormous pumpkin example putting others to shame. And while single bloom flowers took several prizes in the garden-side entries, similar efforts were evident in the dozen-or-so flower-bedecked wide-brimmed bonnets of the ladies intent on claiming a first prize.
Pat Harbutt, already the winner of the mixed blooms flower display, emerged on top of this colourful headgear group but just by a whisker (or a petal perhaps – sorry).
Scones and jam were plentiful being put together in the historical Homestead kitchen. Outside, Sue’s tombola was in full swing, small dogs were judged mainly for their clothing adornments and the two Ians (Hughes and Ewart) extended their usual Happy Hour Friday afternoon clowning antics by running a “horse” race.
The early Autumn afternoon brought together a lovely feeling of contentment, fun, togetherness and exactly the right social atmosphere that a well-run retirement village should engender and maintain.
Fete. Photo: Mizzu Cho pexels.com
