HAMBLEDON ROCKED, IT ROLLED, IT REMEMBERED AND IT RESPECTED.
It all started on the Thursday before the Festival Weekend (June 19th, 20th and 21st) when Jane Woolley’s many village friends gathered to remember her contribution to our village by joining in her 90th Birthday celebration on the Cricket Green.
It continued the following day with a large crowd gathered to hear two fine bands performing at Jazz on The Green, heralding the start of the Hambledon Festival.
On the Saturday Hambledon’s ever-popular traditional village fete took place, with a large variety of stands, stalls, displays and the dog show, always a star attraction for young and old.
In the evening the Ball in the marquee was a big success with every table taken by villagers, family and friends to eat, party, and enjoy dancing until midnight to live music, supplemented by a beer bar operated by the Merry Harriers. It rocked! (photo galleries)
Each of the Friday and Saturday events raised considerable sums for local charities and good causes, the final tally yet to be announced.
After a St Peter’s Church Service in the marquee on Sunday morning, villagers rolled out in their classic cars for a rally across the South Downs, lunch at the White Horse at Chilgrove, West Sussex, and visit to the coast at Bosham before ending at the Merry Harriers where the Fete raffle was drawn.
After the weekend’s festivities, a change of mood as many villagers paid their respects at St Peter’s Church at the funeral of long-term resident Derek Miller who died aged 91 last month. A gathering followed at the pub. Among his many contributions to community life, it was Derek along with his wife Cynthia who assisted their friends Sue and Ginge Blackman after Sue came up with the idea of ball to make good use of the marquee following the fete
It didn’t end there. Last weekend came the Hambledon CC v Merry Harriers annual cricket match, a 25-over game which attracted support all around the boundary from villagers and resulted in a win for the home team. This was followed by an afterparty at the pub, with outside bar, food and live music.
A fine selection of photographs from all the festival events are available in the gallery section of this website.
Now time for a pause before the Old Coal Yard Summer Fair on July 18th and the Hambledon Village Show at the village hall on the afternoon of August 29th followed by the village community shop BBQ at 4.30pm.
For a full round-up of all village activities and events please see the July edition of the Hambledon Parish Magazine, out now and available at the shop or by subscription.