Save the date for the Midsummer Festival!

In Plympton St Maurice, it’s not just nature that gets busy in the spring. For a hard working team, the birdsong and blossom means that it’s time to start planning the village’s annual event – The Midsummer Festival.

The Festival begins on Friday June 17th until Sunday June 19th – and it’s big. So at this time of year the community spirit of St Maurice start to pull together and residents old and young gather to put their thinking caps on to ensure that the Festival will be better than other years.

The Sir Joshua Reynolds choir are busy practicing for what has become a sell out performance on the Friday night, when they perform a range of music in the beautiful setting of St Maurice church.

Meanwhile up to 100 volunteers are pulling out their notebooks, putting together spread sheets and working out the entertainment for the historic Lamb Feast which takes place on the Castle Green on Saturday the 20th from noon.

Each year the Lamb Feast attracts thousands of people and it really is an event to please all. The event dates back centuries and has always been a great success. There’s all the fun of the fair with Fun & Games for the kids and older folks alike – with the attendance of local May Queens a Classic Car display, Dog Show competition, Local School Bands, Soloist Singers, Martial Arts display, Local Children Dance Groups, Crafts and Arts, Sumptuous Lamb & Hot Dog Baps, Homemade Cakes and just about everything in between.

Organiser Duncan Bray says “We are planning the layout of the various stalls now, but are open to consider anyone who might think they can offer something original and appealing.

“Each year we’re able to provide such a wonderful weekend because of the generosity of our sponsors, Ridgeway Cooperative; Gribbles Butchers, Otter Nurseries, Lynham Inn, Brandon Hire to name but a few, and of course for the hard work of all our volunteers, who put so much into the event.”

Keen gardeners from all over the region already have Sunday 19th marked in their diary. From 2 – 6pm the public can peek behind the façade of the ancient village and nosy round gardens large and small. They can explore the allotments now flourishing in the moat of the 11th century castle and see the saxon strip gardens – some of the finest examples in the country, that are breathtakingly beautiful.

The stroll down Fore Street, Plympton St Maurice, is likely to be accompanied by Maurice Dancers, Ukulele players, Mark’s Magic and more. And if it all gets too much, Devon’s finest cream teas will be on offer at St Vincent’s Nursing home, and for those who prefer it, local hostelries will be offering something stronger.

So don’t be disappointed, be sure to mark your diaries and ensure you don’t miss The Midsummer Festival, one of the best of Devon’s traditional events. You’ll be in for a treat.

For further information and to enquire about stalls at the Lamb Feast please contact Lyn Bray at lynbray63@hotmail.com or Duncan Bray at duncanbray2@btinternet.com