COLOUR, music and fun plus interesting advice and informative stalls kept people entertained at the third Crediton Diversity Festival, which was held on the town square on Saturday, July 31. Threatened rain held off and the whole event was voted a success. 

Organiser Alan Quick, who was unable to be there, thanked everyone who attended and helped as well as Simon Kitchen who kindly stood in for Alan at short notice.

Attending was the Chairman of Devon County Council, Cllr Jeffrey Trail and Mrs Sue Trail, who enjoyed visiting all the stalls, talking to many people and listening to the music. Afterwards they said they were pleased to have supported the event.

The High Sheriff of Devon, Lady Studholme called in with Sir Studholme. She commented that instead of polarising, the event was about taking this stimulus and having a conversation with the community and opening the differences in a rural market town, something that was really fabulous.

The day was opened by Crediton Devon County Councillor Frank Letch and Cllr Joyce Harris, the deputy Mayor of Crediton.

Mr Letch thanked everyone who had helped with the event. He asked people to remember that Crediton welcomed everyone and there was no place for racism or hate of any kind. 

He also said what good work many of the voluntary organisation do and suggested more people might consider the benefits of volunteering. 

Supporters of CHAT (Churches Housing Action Team) were explaining how they can help in so many ways. Although based in Tiverton, there are two CHAT debt advisers in Crediton at the Congregational Church on Tuesdays and a tenancy/housing advisor at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre on Fridays. 

On the NHS Clinical Commissioning stand, Aggie Szpinda, Outreach Involvement Manager, explained that her role was to get to the hard-to-reach communities, homeless people, to help them take down the barriers.

She said vaccination was the best way to protect people from Covid. “We want to get more advice to people and to get them tested,” she said. For more information, contact NHS Devon. 

Stuart Steel, public health Devon County Council and part of the county council’s testing teams, said there were five teams across Devon based at Tavistock, Barnstaple, Exeter, Honiton and Totnes. Checking the devon.cc/testing website will tell you where the van is each day. One visits the Crediton Tesco car park on Wednesday mornings and Saturday afternoons. 

Stuart gave away almost all of the 400 rapid testing kits he had with him that day. These were seven in each box. 

Drop-in volunteers Lizzi Allnatt and Cameron Caverhill of Refugee Support Devon explained that the organisation was 20 years-old. They said there were about 160 families they supported across Devon. It is a charity and has to fundraise all the money it needs to support its services. There are five paid staff and about 60 volunteers. A large part of its work is education, teaching people about speaking English. It has an allotment in Exeter plus giving computer training among its work. 

Staff from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner were asking people what they wanted from the police as well as giving away reflective bands, information and other items.

Explaining how Walking Rugby worked was Laura Ford from Crediton Rugby Club. She said that people did not need to know anything about this 15-a-side game, they would be taught to pass and catch the ball (“as best anyone can”) and it would give an hour’s moderate workout for all ages, genders, shapes, sizes and states of health. 

Laura added that a Walking Rugby tournament had been held in July at Crediton. Meet at Crediton Rugby Club car park on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6-7pm.

There are free sessions to try before paying a modest membership or session fee, plus various social events. 

Tsara Smith from Westleigh near Tiverton was talking about Ramble Against Racism and BLM in the Stix. 

On the CISCO, Crediton International Social Cultural Organisation, one of the founders, Natalia Letch, was explaining how part of its work was to support giving free English lessons in Crediton. 

With the pulsing music, Avtar Panesar from the Avtar Indian Dance CIC was teaching people the basics of Indian dance and members of his company gave displays. 

On the stall for Crediton Methodist Church the Minister, the Rev Alison Richardson, was talking about the group in Northern India supported by the church in partnership with the Methodist District. 

Formed 44 years ago, the Lions Club of Crediton had members explaining its work and founder member, Eric Parkes former club president and now Zone chairman, was among them as well as Hazel Evely, tho year’s club president. 

Members of The Turning Tides Project, based at Crediton Station Tea Rooms, were providing some really good music for dancing and listening. They were also selling the Elderflower Cordial they make at their base using entirely local elderflowers.

Music was also provided by solo guitarist Ian Edgar and by Wee Free Men with more music and dancing from Exeter Malayalee Association of South India with their teacher, Ditta. They live in Exeter and are partners with Inclusive Exeter.

Crediton Arts Centre arranged the music programme, which also included Corduroy Curiosities and Moonshine Serenaders.

Offering slices of traditional cakes were members of Welcoming Refugees in Crediton, founded more than 25 years ago. They were giving away slices of Fouk that included pine nuts and turmeric and Barazek which included pistachios and sesame seeds. 

Rachel Avery, Crediton town clerk and Lisa Blake, the council’s Special Projects Officer, said the town promoted and encouraged diversity in our community.

Alan Quick thanked Crediton Town Council for raising the Progressive Pride flag on the town’s flagpole for the Festival.

Crediton Town Council had a stall and other stalls were provided by Devon Communities Together, Bluebird Care, Crediton Methodist Church, Crediton Parish Church, Exeter Pride, Inclusive Exeter, Refugees in Crediton and Unique Sweets, who also provided the face painting.

Festival sponsors were the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cllr Frank Letch (Devon County Council), Crediton Town Council, Morrisons, Tesco, and Bluebird Care.