This year’s Charter Fair, sponsored by Lanehouse Vauxhall, is set to be the largest to date, when it swings into action on Saturday 7th July. Last year’s record of twenty-four Charity stalls has leapt to thirty-three for the 2007 event. Included are Bridport Disabled Carers, Bridport Young Persons’ Action Trust, Bowling Club, PHAB, Motor Neurone Disease, St Swithins Church and Playgroup, Bandits Motor Project, Museum, Save the Children, Youth Centre, The Mill, Pathways to Care, Rotary, Brownies, CAB, Friends of Mountjoy School, RNLI, Volunteer Centre, HomeStart, Lions, Operatic Society, Older Peoples’ Forum, Age Concern, James Hargreaves, Community Hall, WAWA, Parkinson’s Disease Society, Julia’s House, Royal British Legion (Women’s Section), Dorset Wildlife Trust, Children’s Centre and the Conservative Club raising funds for the Air Ambulance.
A very full line up of live entertainment in Bucky Doo Square is scheduled as follows:
• 9.30am Bridport Big Band
• 10.00 am Mayor of Bridport
• 10.10am Bridport Big Band
• 11.00am Stompin’ Dave
• 12.00 Celticair
• 13.00 Mitch Norman & Friends
• 14.00 Ways of the Mouth
• 14.40 Harry North Band
The rest of South Street will again be taken up by Rob Ridge’s ramps, with young bikers, bladers and skateboarders strutting their stuff for the delight of the general public.
The Borough Gardens off South Street are being used for the first time as a dedicated Children’s Area, with stalls, Nail Painting, Bouncy Castle, Potter’s Wheel and Beat the Goalie with Bridport FC. There will be baby-changing facilities in the Children’s Centre area. The Charter Fair’s Community Arts Project, which last year produced a huge portrait of Bridport’s Mr Music, Rex Trevett, is going supersize again. This year’s theme is ‘What makes me happy’, and primary school children will be able to add their own piece to a giant jigsaw created by community artist Red Smith (and it’s FREE!). Performances begin at 10.30am with a Dog Training Display, followed at 11 by SingAcepella, the 1st Bridport Brownies are at 11.30, and children from the Lyric School of Dance at 11.45am.
Last year’s Charter Fair, the first to be organised by a community group of local volunteers, was particularly successful. Secretary Arthur Woodgate said that the Charterist’s committee was very pleased with the new developments for 2007.
‘It’s all looking very good’, he said. ‘What we can’t predict is the weather, which seems to be particularly unpredictable just now. If the worst comes to the worst, the Charity stalls will re-locate to the Arts Centre, the Children’s area to the Youth Centre, and the performers to the Town Hall. Entry to all venues will be free’.
The evening gig at the Arts Centre, organised through the Humph Sound Studio, kicks off at 7pm, and features ‘Ways of the Mouth, The Mauves, Astronauts and Parachutes, The Harry North Band’, DJ LA Breakout and Swift Lee. Entry is £3 and all proceeds go to the Charter Fair.
The prestigious Charter trophy, created by local sculptor Karl Dixon, will be awarded to the shop/establishment that displays the event poster in the most creative way.
This year’s Charter Fair, sponsored by Lanehouse Vauxhall, is set to be the largest to date, when it swings into action on Saturday 7th July. Last year’s record of twenty-four Charity stalls has leapt to thirty-three for the 2007 event. Included are Bridport Disabled Carers, Bridport Young Persons’ Action Trust, Bowling Club, PHAB, Motor Neurone Disease, St Swithins Church and Playgroup, Bandits Motor Project, Museum, Save the Children, Youth Centre, The Mill, Pathways to Care, Rotary, Brownies, CAB, Friends of Mountjoy School, RNLI, Volunteer Centre, HomeStart, Lions, Operatic Society, Older Peoples’ Forum, Age Concern, James Hargreaves, Community Hall, WAWA, Parkinson’s Disease Society, Julia’s House, Royal British Legion (Women’s Section), Dorset Wildlife Trust, Children’s Centre and the Conservative Club raising funds for the Air Ambulance.
