Title
2004 - Arkesden press coverage
Date
2004
Contributor
Sharon McCann
Text
Fayre way to raise funds
A RECORD amount of money has been raised at a medieval fayre to fund repairs to an historic church. Visitors to the bi-annual Arkesden Medieval Fayre swelled the coffers of the Friends of Arkesden Church organisation to £4,400.
The cash will be used to pay for ongoing repairs to the church’s fabric and since the fayre was started 20 years ago, £100,000 has been raised to buy a new roof, replace the electrics and carry out repairs to the nave and chancel.‘
Revellers at the fayre got to witness a re-enactment of a medieval battle between a group of Saxons called Gesithas from Royston, and Vikings from London, who displayed archery and medieval fighting techniques.
During the battle, some of the Saxons grabbed a group of women from the crowd to sell off as ‘slaves’, which raised a further £40. Following this, the Saxon group showed off its crafts and needlework and some of the wheat-based foods the ancient warriors used to eat.
A crowd of more than 600 was on hand to see a host of other events, including music from the Walden Buskers.
Friends’ chairman John Palmer said: “It was the highest ever amount raised and I think we had the highest attendance as well.
“Even though the day looked like it was going to be bad, we got away with it with just a few spots of rain. We were lucky really.”
Picture: DICK HARDING
A RECORD amount of money has been raised at a medieval fayre to fund repairs to an historic church. Visitors to the bi-annual Arkesden Medieval Fayre swelled the coffers of the Friends of Arkesden Church organisation to £4,400.
The cash will be used to pay for ongoing repairs to the church’s fabric and since the fayre was started 20 years ago, £100,000 has been raised to buy a new roof, replace the electrics and carry out repairs to the nave and chancel.‘
Revellers at the fayre got to witness a re-enactment of a medieval battle between a group of Saxons called Gesithas from Royston, and Vikings from London, who displayed archery and medieval fighting techniques.
During the battle, some of the Saxons grabbed a group of women from the crowd to sell off as ‘slaves’, which raised a further £40. Following this, the Saxon group showed off its crafts and needlework and some of the wheat-based foods the ancient warriors used to eat.
A crowd of more than 600 was on hand to see a host of other events, including music from the Walden Buskers.
Friends’ chairman John Palmer said: “It was the highest ever amount raised and I think we had the highest attendance as well.
“Even though the day looked like it was going to be bad, we got away with it with just a few spots of rain. We were lucky really.”
Picture: DICK HARDING
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