TUESDAY, JULY 11 - SUNDAY, JULY 16

MAYPOLE Dancing, flower competitions, a Royal procession, dancing, exhibitions and circus skills are among the activities which will be a part of Lapford Revel 2017, taking place in the village from Tuesday, July 11 to Sunday, July 16.

The Revel will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the year of “Flower Power” and the “Summer of Love”. Members of the public are invited to dress in appropriate clothing for some of the events.

On the Tuesday, Lapford and District Horticultural Society will hold its Rose and Sweet Pea Show in the Victory Hall, open to the public from 7.30pm.

Everyone is invited to gather at the Village Green on the Thursday to await the arrival of the Royal Procession, which will start at 6.45pm at the village car park and make its way to the green as the church bells ring.

Tyler Read will be crowned Revel King and Daisy Dickinson as Revel Queen at 7.10pm.  Crowners will be Summer Waters and Joe Poole.

Attendants will be Annemie Gardner, Devon Heal, Nikita Woodley, Oscar Koukoudakis, Maya-Rose Wyatt, Hope Foreman, Meggy Heale, Sam Poole, Emily Passmore, Alex Fletcher, Isabel Randall and Dylan Goldsbury.

After the ceremony there will be Maypole Dancing by children from Lapford Primary School, followed by a sweet scramble.

That will be followed by a display by Winkleigh Morris.

That evening there will also be a barbecue, bar and chips available.

Friday sees a Team Games Evening at the primary school playing field organised by the Yeo Valley Christian Fellowship, beginning at 6.45pm.

Revel Day is Saturday, July 15, with events at the Playing Field.

There will be the opening of the Fayre at 1.30pm and entertainment by Circus Berzercus. There will also be stalls, a circus workshop, Classic 60s comedy sketches by Lapford Amateur Dramatic Society, bird display, children’s craft tent, bar and barbecue, cream teas and cakes in The Ark and at 5.30pm, the prize draw.

On the Saturday evening, from 7.30pm, Paul Adams will play for a 60s evening at the Playing Field, which will be followed by a disco. There will be a bar and barbecue.

Throughout the week there will be an Exhibition of Artwork, inspired by Lapford Old School, in The Ark. The artwork will be by Rebecca Holley, Tim Salter and Chris Rees, with readings from The Old School Logbooks.

Opening times will be July 11 (11am-2pm), July 13 (from 6.30pm), July 14 (11am to 2pm), July 15 (from 10am, and refreshments available throughout the day) and July 17 (4pm to 6pm, refreshments available).

There will be a flower display by local organisations in the church with a display of the Children’s Revel Art competition entries.  The floral displays will celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday.

On the Sunday there will be a Songs of Praise Service at 6pm in St Thomas of Canterbury Church.

Lapford Revel has been running for about 800 years.

Alan Quick