HELPERS, PARTICIPANTS & ACTIVITIES
HARTEST PRIMARY SCHOOL – Mrs Hilary Head Teacher
Ms Kirsten Fell and Elder Class
Activities by Elder Class: - The history of Hartest depicted in paintings, drawings also pottery tiles of the houses in the Village – all displayed in a “Time Line” History exhibition in the Boxted and Hartest Institute.
The creation of a life sized painted “Stone” made from chicken wire and plaster of paris, assisted by Grenville Clarke and Jo Pask. On completion, the stone was attached to an old wooden plough sledge C1800 / early 1900’s lent by David Pask.
PREPARATION FOR THE DAY
Help from Ewan Donald, Mo and George Rocknean, Yvonne Hebditch, Mark Last, Ralph Carpenter, Michael Clarke, Jody and Shaun Healy, Holly Kidby, Sarah Smith: -
ACTIVITIES:- Publicity - painting of souvenir stones - putting up bunting around the green - erecting gazebo’s – preparing BBQ – blowing up balloons – moving large games equipment - AND after the event the clearing up!
ON THE DAY
EXHIBITION IN INSTITUTE:- As described above
CELEBRATION CAKE :- Val Seal from Boxted made and kindly donated a celebration cake. Depicting the Green, it was decorated with a real stone, a miniature Maypole with ribbons and a miniature Hartest Village sign made by John Ryan, a previous resident of the Village.
BELL RINGING:- A peal of bells was rung by Stephen Stone Bell Tower Captain and his team, at the beginning of the afternoon.
PICNIC AND BBQ :- All over the Green under Gazebo’s or sitting in the shade of the trees, Families set up and enjoyed their picnics. In one area lovely table cloths and flowers adorned the tables!
GALLEY SLAVES ICE CREAM TRICYCLE:- Arriving at 2pm, this was welcome visitor who did a good trade on a very hot day!
PA SYSTEM:- Kindly provided and his time donated by Kevin Winterbone for the whole of the festivities and into the very late evening!!
VISITATION FROM SOME SOMERTON RESIDENTS: - who demanded that the Stone be returned to them. In 1713 it was taken from Highfield in Somerton.
MOVING THE STONE:- At 2.30pm Children of all ages with balloons plus Parents and Friends, walked up the drive at Place Farm to collect the “Stone” from the Dutch barn. It was then dragged up to the top of the yard onto the Somerton road – the route that the real Stone would have travelled down 300 years ago! The Crowd proceeded down the road with the “Stone” around the Green to a loud rendition of the Trumpet voluntary on the PA system. It was placed beside the original Stone and during the afternoon a parking ticket was placed on it!!
MAYPOLE DANCING:- Deidre Newman kindly gave her time to organise the dancing both by the children (who were extremely expert) and a good attempt by some parents and Friends, in this iconic Village activity. It was so enjoyed but all those who took part and the many watching. The Maypole and ribbons were lent by Hartest School.
VARIOUS GAMES:- The games that were available were Tug of War ropes for Adults and Children (lent by Friends) and duck dipping (lent by Sarah Howell). Also we appreciated the involvement by Jodie and Shaun Healy who provided the Youth cub equipment for everyone to enjoy. During the afternoon people could play pool, “ping pong”, football, jenga and in the evening, the Adults had a competitive game of Cricket!
FACE PAINTING:- Holly Kidby sat in the shade for the afternoon and provided a “free” face painting service which obviously was popular, judging by the number “strange” beings wandering around!!
SOUVENIER STONES:- Small cobble stones (from Scotland!!) which had inscribed on them “ Hartest Stone 1713 -2013” were given to all, as keepsakes of the day. There was a facility for people to inscribe their own if they wanted to.
POETRY:- For the celebrations, John Ryan and Keith Doidge wrote poems in praise of the Hartest Stone.
It is thought that there were more than 150 folk enjoyed the afternoon. The formal celebrations ceased with the releasing of three balloons tied together with a postcard of Hartest with a message and with tea and celebration cake in the Institute at 5pm. However there were some who were still partying at 11pm!
