The St Minver Parishes Summer Fete held at St Minver Community Hub on 1st August proved to be a wonderful celebration of village spirit, bringing together residents, families, volunteers, and local organisations for an afternoon packed with music, games, great food, and plenty of laughter. With the sun shining over the playing field, the fete welcomed a steady stream of visitors who came to enjoy a classic summer event filled with traditional activities and local charm. The fete was opened at 1pm by Angie Medland, chair of St Minver Lowlands Parish Council.

One of the highlights of the day was the uplifting performance from St Minver Silver Band, whose music set the tone beautifully. Their lively programme created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, encouraging people to gather, chat, and enjoy the festivities.

We had our Cake, Tombola, Bric-a-Brac, Plant and book stalls, thanks to Jo, Clare, Tim, Scott and Nicki for the work they did in running these stalls. Our Tombola was so popular that all the prizes had gone within the first two hours. A special thanks to everyone who donated prizes, items, books, plants and cakes.

The field was buzzing with activity thanks to a fantastic range of stalls and games. Children and adults alike took part in welly wanging, sending wellies flying with impressive enthusiasm; the winners threw the wellies amazing distances. Hugo won the child category with a distance of 20m. The teenager category was won by Isla with 25m, and the adult category by Edward with 30m, thanks to Catherine and Steve for running this game. The skittles alley drew competitive spirits, keen to knock down every pin, with the eventual winners being Johnny (child) and Nigel (adult). Shout-out to Mike for running this game. The ever‑popular Splat the Rat attracted a crowd of determined participants, each hoping to beat the rat as it shot down the drainpipe. A big thank you to The Link editor and chair, Morwenna, for looking after this game and making sure the rats didn’t escape.

A new attraction at this year’s fete was the Human Fruit Machine, brilliantly run by the Sea Explorers with additional help in its construction from Rob, Jackie and Emma. The Sea Explorers’ energy and humour made it a memorable part of the day, with people keen to pit their luck against the fruit‑themed crew.

Local youth groups were out in force, with both the Brownies and Scouts hosting stalls where people could find a location on a map to win a prize with the Scouts, and the Brownies had numerous games including Hook a Fish and Find the Winning Card. Their contributions added a lovely community feel and gave younger members of the parish a chance to shine.

We had an inflatable archery range sponsored by Polzeath Castles where people of all ages could see how many balls they could knock down, not an easy task. Thanks to Adam and Olive for making sure this new and exciting activity was safely run.

One of the most popular activities with queues all day was the airbrush tattoos by Amy’s Air Studio; thanks to St Minver Lowlands and Highlands Parish Councils for sponsoring this activity, which enabled it to be free for all.

The Polzeath FC Football Skills was a very popular activity with target and crossbar challenges, thanks to the Wills and Webster families for organising and running this, a great addition to this year’s fete.

A Marketplace of Local Talent

Visitors also enjoyed a vibrant mix of stalls selling locally made produce, crafts, and gifts, offering everything from homemade jams and chutneys to hand‑crafted jewellery, artwork, and textiles. The variety and quality of items on offer highlighted the incredible talent within our community and gave people the chance to take home something unique.

And of course, the raffle was a huge success, boasting an extraordinary selection of prizes. The showstopper was an inflatable unicorn filled with summer delights, which drew plenty of excitement. Other prizes included a unique pottery jug by Paul Jackson and pottery from Astrid at Cornwall Pottery, an original painting by Patricia Glasswell, a turbo cooker, a bag from Quay 4, a large, framed photo of an aerial view of Rock donated by Maria, Harry Potter Lego from Bricknells, hand painted cards from Elizabeth Masters, a delicious hamper from Flo’s, and vouchers from Golden Lion in Padstow, The Beach House, Salon Deco, and Robertsons Jewellers. The generosity of local businesses makes the raffle even more special. Thanks to Debbie, Pat and Sue who supported Christine with the endless stream of people.

A big thank you to Jill who made a substantial donation to St Minver Community Hub CIO from the paintings, cards and items she sold on her stall.

Food and drink were plentiful, with Kelly’s Ice Cream proving a hit in the warm weather and the burger stand keeping everyone well fed with burgers generously donated by Ian Warren of Philip Warren Butchers andbuns from The Blue Tomato; thanks to Sally and Keith for their BBQ skills and supporting Stuart. The Beer and Pimm’s Tent, stocked with donations from Sharp’s Brewery, offered a relaxed social space where people could enjoy a drink and catch up with friends; due to its popularity, the Pimms ran out too soon. Additional thanks to Andy, Jo and Trudie for supporting Carol at this very busy tent.

The cream teas were another star attraction, served with generous dollops of jam and clotted cream and enjoyed by families relaxing in the sunshine. They provided a perfect pause between games, music, and browsing the stalls. Another shout-out to the Webster and Wills families for not only making the scones but also running the café.

Safety was well looked after thanks to Beacon Medical Services, sponsored by John Bray Cornish Holidays, ensuring peace of mind for everyone attending.

We would also like to thank Dave and his parking buddies Sam and Luke, who made sure the site was safe for car users and pedestrians in our two car parks. A massive thanks to the Hore family for lending us their field; without this, the roads would have been filled with cars, as we had around 500 people attend this year’s event.

A final thanks to Keith, Tina and Rachel for making sure the event ran smoothly and safely, ensuring everyone had everything they needed. And of course, to Martin for keeping us all informed and entertained with a mix of commentary and music. Apologies if we have missed anyone; it takes many people to make events like this a success, and for this we thank you all.

The fete was not only a joyful community gathering but also a successful fundraiser for St Minver Community Hub CIO. The support from local businesses, volunteers, and visitors made a real difference, helping to fund projects that benefit residents across St Minver Highlands and Lowlands.

It was a day full of smiles, shared moments, and village pride — a true celebration of what makes St Minver such a special place.

We look forward to seeing you all at our Christmas Fayre on 7^th November and, of course, at next year’s Summer Fete on 14^th August 2027.