THURLESTONE Church Summer Fete raised nearly £5,000 for the church’s organ fund while being the busiest event in years.

Toyes Orchard, Thurlestone, was the setting for the fete on Saturday, July 23, with new stalls and old keeping everyone amused all day.

Peter Hirst, organiser, said: ‘It went very well, it was busier than last year, the weather was great and there were lots of people there. We had a 27 stall and a few new stalls in Guess the Doll’s Name, with dolls for sale and the Handicrafts stall had all locally-made items from woodturning to cushions, all made by people in Thurlestone and the surround ding areas.

‘There was a face painter for the kids, our usual jazz band, we had great fun at the coconut shy, Splat the Rat and the football game.’

Peter went on to thank the fete committee who start work on the Summer Fete in February and ‘everyone who comes along and helps setting up and taking down, and especially to Peter and Sarah Kearney who offer us their home every year’.

‘Peter and Sarah come down a week before’, continued Peter, ‘with their sons and daughters to sort things out, the whole family help moving all the furniture from the village hall and the meeting room to Toyes Orchard, we wouldn’t be able to do it without them.

‘A lot of people said it was the most enjoyable fete they had been to and we must thank the Thurlestone Hotel whose generosity with raffle prizes is unbelievable. They gave us a two-night inclusive stay at either the Thurlestone Hotel or Mullion Cove Hotel in Cornwall, a spa day for two and a meal for two in the Village Inn. Their generosity and help within the village in unprecedented and we really appreciate it.’

The event raised £4,911 for the church organ fund, which at 29 years old is now getting difficult to find parts for. A new organ is expected to cost around £28,000 so more fundraising events will be organised in the future.