A CHURCH service at the church of St Mary Magdalene at 6.30pm on Tuesday, July 24 to bless Chulmleigh Old Fair Queen-elect and her “royalty” will signal the start of Chulmleigh Old Fair week, which will run until Sunday, July 29.

Following the service the fair will be opened by the raising of the white glove by Debbie Phillips and crowning of the Fair Queen by Ed Phillips.

There will also be the reading of the Royal Proclamation, which enables the Fair to take place, by Chulmleigh Town Crier.

Entertainment in Fore Street will be by Chulmleigh Dance Group, Community Rock Choir and Dance Fusion of North Devon.

Later will be the money scramble and children’s races.

The Grand Finale will be with Higher Beings Circus Artistes.

Wednesday, July 25 will include a flower festival in the Parish Church from 10am to 4pm and the 60-plus stall craft and country market from 10am, the pavement artists competition from 11am and a country fair from 10am, which will be held at Great Mills Park. It will include the sheep show, vintage vehicle rally and static engines (12 noon), flower and produce show (12.30pm), children’s entertainment and a family dog show (2pm).

There will be dancing to “Barracuda” at the Golf Club from 7pm.

Thursday, July 26 will see the flower festival continue in the Parish Church from 10am to 4pm and at the same time there will be an exhibition by The History Society in the Town Hall.

From 10am there will be the junior tennis and badminton tournaments at the sports centre and at 2pm Sport for All at Chulmleigh Playing Field.

The Motor Scavenge will begin at 6.30pm from the Town Hall and at 7pm both the skittles competition and darts challenges will begin.

From 7.30pm there will be a party at the Pavilion with Music, Magic and Mayhem with Captain Coconut, children’s entertainment, families welcome.

Friday, July 27 begins with the horse show at 10am at Benley Cross, followed by the gymkhana at 2pm.

The flower festival continues and there will be a Treasure Trail from Red Lion Corner at 10.30am. The History Exhibition will be open from 10am.

An antiques afternoon will take place from 2pm in the Town Hall and from 2pm to 6pm, the continuation of the golf challenge.

At 3pm there will be a History Walk “The Old Schools of Chulmleigh”, led by Brian Jennings, meeting at Red Lion Corner.

At 4.30pm the Clay Pigeon Shoot will take place.

The juniors six-a-side football will run from 1pm and the seniors six-a-side tournament from 6pm, both at the Playing Field.

The evening ends from 9pm with a Wurzels Tribute Band at the Red Lion.

Saturday, July 28, begins with a coffee morning from 9am, the golf challenge also from 9am.

The flower festival will run from 10am to 4pm and from 10am there will be orienteering for novices and the more experienced.

From 10am there will be Medieval Mayhem on the playing field.

Fancy dress competitions, for children and adults, will be judged from 2.30pm and at 3pm the parade will be led by the Town Crier, Fair Queen and Medieval Group. There will be entertainment by Okehampton Excelsior Band and Nikki Carter’s Irish Dance in Fore Street from 2.15pm.

There will be teas and a grand draw and much more.

The skittles final will also take place and from 6pm there will be fun and games in Fore Street.

An open road race will take place from 7.30pm.

Dancing will follow in Fore Street into the evening with Jason Toft.

Sunday, July 29 will see Medieval Mayhem at the playing fields from 10am.

An Inter-town 20/20 fun cricket match will take place from 1pm at the cricket ground.

More details are available in a programme available from local outlets.