Crowning the queen of the Bisley Fete

Sue B, the organiser of the annual Bisley Fete and Flower Show approached me a few months ago and asked if I would like to have a stall there. I readily agreed as I have always liked the event, which I have attended off and on for many years. I once won the Knobbly Knees competition, and had the dubious pleasure of having my knee stroked to check them out by local author Jilly Cooper, who has the ‘big’ house at the centre of the village.

In recent weeks Sue mentioned that the Show would be formally opened by Ashley and Keith Dickenson, who own Stancombe Beech farm close to the heart of the village. Their farm shop is a very important place for the village and their family has been loved by all for many generations. When Ashley and Keith decided they weren’t able to continue running the farm shop as well as the land, which Ashley farms, and the large honey production business, which Keith took over from their father, Jim., the villagers were in shock. In fact a solution has been found with another local farm’s owners agreeing to lease the shop and continue running it with all the same staff. The changeover happens in a week's time.

I think the fact that this was the end of one era and the beginning of another was the reason they were asked to open the Fete and Flower Show. They duly arrived on their chariot, their oldest Massey-Ferguson tractor, following the flat bed pick-up truck which was carrying the Flower Queen and King, with their two attendants. As I’ve been photographing the family and the farm for more than a decade I promised to record the event for Ashley and Keith.

I’m blipping the moment soon after the King and Queen made their entrance into the ‘parade’ ground, and once they had sat down on their thrones of flowers, they were duly crowned. Keith placed the garland on flower Queen Jemima Ellinson’s head and that was followed by Ashley crowning Sasha Kulykov as the King. They are both ten years old.

My ‘Extra’ is of them all having descended from their carriage ready for the ceremony.

Our local newspaper, the Stroud News and Journal covered the event with many pictures from well known local photographer Simon Pizzey. He has produced a wonderful set of classic ‘fete’ pictures, including some of the produce winners of the actual Flower and Produce show.