Westfield Fun Day remembered

Westfield: the first 10 years Westfield Fun day remembered

Westfield Fun Day came into being thanks to the efforts of Luckington Carnival Club who worked to establish a family fun event complete with show ring performances, children’s fancy dress, bouncy castles, car boot, stalls and more.

One of many ideas of the Parish Council to create and foster a feeling of identity in the newly recognised parish of Westfield, the first Fun Day, on 24th June 2012, was well attended and set in motion a tradition that has stood the test of time over the life of the Parish Council so far.

In its second year, the Parish Council became more involved and Fun Day sought to draw in local groups and organisations to continue to foster the community spirit and make it a truly inclusive fundraising event for them as part of the community of Westfield. The Parish Council took over the organisation from 2014 onwards, with Luckington Carnival Club still very much involved. That was the year that the sun shone brightly on us to make it a really memorable day. Classic Cars and the Radstock Devils motorcycles added a roar to the event and fairground attractions added a bounce and a whirl. The sun meant that residents were able to stay and enjoy the field all afternoon. In 2017 the promised dog show, Scruffs, was rained off but was hailed a great success the following year when it finally premiered and proved very popular, with local pooches shampooed and styled to turn out their best in the display ring. Residents will remember wet Fun Days, cold Fun Days and scorching hot Fun Days. Highlights have included the Beau Street Hoard Roadshow showcasing the bag of Roman coins found in Bath, the opportunity to join Mendip All Drummers, the nostalgia of a Punch and Judy performance, the opening by local celebrity, Michael Eavis and the time we were promised a Red Arrows fly over, but they couldn’t find us due to cloud cover!

Regular, beloved features include the Silver Band opening the event, Luckington’s BBQ (always a queue), Westfield Allotments Society plant stall, Bathampton Morris Men, Jamie Woodland Academy, Radstock Fire Brigade, the Parish Council’s hotly contested bottle tombola and the donkeys; whilst the organisers try to entertain visitors with new and fresh features each year including the birds of prey display, the dog show, appearances by Spiderman and Princesses Elsa and Rapunzel and a captivating performance by North Somerset Samba Band.

Although firmly fixed in the Parish Council calendar for the first Sunday in June; sadly, COVID restrictions have prevented the event from taking place for two years in a row. However, we can assure you that the event is merely waiting in the wings for a glorious blast back onto Westhill Recreation Ground just as soon as it is able. Massive thanks must go to the tiny committee of volunteers who organise the event, having included over the years: Councillors Phil Wilkinson, Diana Cooper and Pat Williams, as well as Sally, Becky and Ian and Lesley, Emily and Tracey in the office. We look forward to welcoming you back to Westfield Fun Day in 2022!