Town Crier Kevin Payne opening the event
Town Crier Kevin Payne opening the event (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

CROWDS thronged Newcombes Meadow for the Big Boniface Bash in Crediton on Sunday, June 9. 

Parish Church choir singing Boniface Song
Parish Church choir singing Boniface Song (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

The free community fun day was held to celebrate St Boniface, who was born in Crediton in the seventh century AD and is the patron saint of Devon. 

The parade
The parade (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Organised by Crediton Town Council and the Crediton Heart Project, the event saw a Saxon Fayre, live music, entertainers, games, European street food to celebrate Crediton’s links with the continent, falconry and more on offer throughout the afternoon. 

The parade
The parade (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Town Crier Kevin Payne opened the event, and Mayor of Crediton Guy Cochran gave a short speech, as did the Mayor of Dokkum in the Netherlands Johannes Kramer and the Deputy Mayor of Fulda in Germany. 

Children in Christmas tree costumes by St Boniface statue
Children in Christmas tree costumes by St Boniface statue (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Many children also dressed up as Christmas trees.

St Boniface himself
St Boniface himself (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

St Boniface is thought to have been the person who invented the Christmas tree tradition after a spruce grew from the roots of a tree he famously felled known as Thor’s Oak. 

Handing out Boniface buns
Handing out Boniface buns (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
People enjoying various stalls
People enjoying various stalls (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Morris dancers
Morris dancers (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
David Buncle of Westcountry Falconry with Harris Hawk
David Buncle of Westcountry Falconry with Harris Hawk (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)