Over 2,000 people turn out for Peasedown's 11th Annual Party in the Park Festival

Over 2,000 people turn out for Peasedown’s 11th Annual Party in the Park Festival

Monday 10th June 2019 Published by Leave your thoughts

Over 2,000 villagers came along to Peasedown St John’s 11th Annual Party in the Park Community Festival last Saturday to celebrate the joys of summertime.

The light rain during the early part of the day didn’t keep them away!

Sponsored by St John’s Church, TrueSpeed, Bath Audi, Curo Housing and Peasedown St John Parish Council, crowds enjoyed seven hours of live music and entertainment.

The Official Event Partner was the Somer Valley Foodbank.

The event, which included a special flag-raising ceremony with festival organisers and School Headteacher Damian Knollys, featured a huge array of stalls and attractions, such as the village’s third Official Push Kart Race, the return of the Peasedown Diamond cider, Peasedown’s second Dog Show, and the results of the Party in the Park Grant Giveaway.

The Sara Holley Community Award, set up in 2011 in memory of a life-long resident who passed away, was won by a woman who has spent the last 15 years serving the community as part of St John’s Church, and has been instrumental in working behind the scenes at the Somer Valley Foodbank.

Jane Street’s commitment and hard work behind the scenes has helped the church become the community-minded and community-focused organisation that it is today.

Her arrival in Peasedown St John in 2004/2005 was an interesting one as she came to the village with her husband, Revd Matthew Street, who was sent here by ‘higher authorises’ to work.

The couple soon became active with their hands-on approach to getting things done – which didn’t go unnoticed. Behind the scenes Jane and Matthew have been instrumental in setting up Children’s Holiday Clubs, giving away over £10,000 to good causes, and working closely with the local primary school to organise breakfast clubs and other activities for children.

Party in the Park Chairman, Nathan Hartley, said: For the last 15 years, Jane has been managing the churches finances, and ensuring they meet all their obligations as a registered charity.

As well as her work with the church, she has played a significant role in the development of the Somer Valley Foodbank serving on the management team – working hard to ensure that the 7,000 food parcels given out across the Somer Valley have gone to people who have needed them the most.

Congratulations, Jane – a well deserved winner!

Over £2,500 was raised on the day, which contributes to the total £7,000 cost of hosting the one-day event. All of the money will be reinvested back into Peasedown St John either through future events or the Party in the Park Grant Fund.

Festival revellers were kept entertained all afternoon thanks to back-to-back outstanding performances from Call the Shots, PRUK Ltd, Jamie Woodland’s Black Belt Academy, Boogie Bounce, Mighty Miss Blues, The Fondue Set, Punk with Attitude, Original Barn Finds, Sambista Dancers.

To add extra excitement to the proceedings, this year’s Special Guest Host was Rusette Auton from Bath Theatrical Costume Hire – which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

Other attractions and stalls throughout the afternoon included: Dragon Rollercoaster Ride; Bouncy Castle; Inflatable Football; Hook a Duck; Jets;  Wipeout; Emshira Passion for Cakes; My Sweets and Treats; Gin Bar; Burger Bar and Donuts; The Drinks Deli; Just Love Nibbles (Caribbean Food); Red Post Inn Beer Tent; Ice Cream Van;  Orgasmic Jam South West Wildlife Fundraising; Hair Braids and Facepainting; Plants; Disney Pops Delight; Flamingo Paperie; Marlowes Makes Sand Art; Dragonfly Jewellery; Montani Designs Handmade Gifts; Wellbeing Crafts;  Crafty Hounds; Peasedown St John Primary School Bric-a-Brac; Keynsham Book Corner; Boogie Bounce; Martin Hawkes’ Tombola; Striker; Test Your Strength and Bedford RL 1957.

Peasedown St John’s 11th Party in the Park festival was held on Saturday 8th June on Beacon Field, from 12noon – 7pm. Thanks to the support of the Somer Valley Foodbank volunteers, Party in the Park volunteers, over 60 hours of time were given to staff the festival gates, and ensure the event ran according to plan, and to schedule.

The organising committee for 2019 were Karen Walker, Joy Fraser, Andrea Feeney, Helen Thorn, Craig Gill, Juliet Webb, Max Feeney, Andy Day and Nathan Hartley.