HUNDREDS of people descended on to playing fields to enjoy an annual community fete that organisers declared “the best so far”.
Organisers said that Sunday’s Risinghurst and Sandhills Community Fete saw more than 600 adults and children stop by the Risinghurst Playing Field.
The fete committee wants to use some of the funds raised to directly improve their neighbourhood, but is still counting up the cash.
A display by Oxford Jitsu Club
Organiser Barbara Naylor, who sits on the fete committee and also chairs Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council, said: “It was really well attended and the fete was fantastic. It was great to see families sitting together and having picnics.
“It was a real community-spirited event and I was really happy. The atmosphere was brilliant. This was the best year yet.”
She hopes to donate some money to the Collingwood Road Church Lunch Club and the Risinghurst Senior Citizens Club.
Anabelle Kinghan, two, cooking dough over a fire to make bread
Dancers from the Headington Quarry Morris Dancers entertained residents with some classic dances, including the Constant Billy and Bean Setting.
Morris dancer Alan Kimber-Nickelson, who attended the event with his wife Julie from Quarry High Street, performed with six others and a musician all afternoon.
Mr Kimber-Nickelson, 69, said: “It was a pleasant afternoon and I think the dancing was appreciated. We came away absolutely shattered.”
Sportsmen and women from the Oxford Jitsu Club demonstrated their moves.
Gilbert Blythe, six, tries the steady hand game
The nine adults and eight juniors who train at the Risinghurst Community Centre were involved in 20-minute demonstrations through the day.
Instructor Natalie Lockyer, 28, from Cowley, has been doing Jitsu for 13 years. She said: “It was really good. It was a really hot day, so the juniors did really well.
“We like to encourage people to have a go. It was really good fun and it is a good way for people to hear about us.”
Anabelle Kinghan, two, was one of the first youngsters to have a go at making her own bread at the fete.
The Little Milton youngster cooked dough with volunteers from the outdoor learning charity Heart of the Wild Wood.
Mum Melanie Kinghan, who is also the charity’s co-founder and outreach officer, helped the children to cook the bread on a fire.
The 40-year-old said: “We were invited to run a stickbread session. We started a fire and the children make their own bread.
“For some of them, it was their first time and they were loving it. Anabelle loves making bread.”
A fete was first held on the estate in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
It was such a success that the fete committee was founded and the second fete held last year.
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