MAYBE it had been planned that way but good things that had come out of the lockdowns of the last two or so years - the creativity and original thinking - were celebrated at Coldridge Fete and Vintage Rally held there on Saturday, June 25.

Fete chairman Ivan Kriznik said it was a day that recognised the spirit of support by neighbours and local businesses that had helped them all through the pandemic.

One couple who embodied that strong sense of community spirit and neighbourliness that was at the heart of Coldridge were Edwin and Marion Webber who had lived in the parish for all of their 57 years of married life, Edwin for longer, most of that time overlooking the village green.

“In that time they have given countless hours to volunteering and helping in the community in all sorts of ways.  We thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for Coldridge,” he said, inviting them to open the fete.

All proceeds from the afternoon were being divided between St Matthew’s Church Fabric Fund and Coldridge Village Hall, both hubs of the village.

Usually held every other year, the last fete was in 2018.  Ivan said this year there had been “a phenomenal sense of community spirit from everyone”, people had been asking if they could bring a stall and there had been “amazing sponsorship” from local businesses.

Community means a lot for Coldridge with a pub being set up in the Village Hall once a month as well as a number of new groups using the revamped hall.

At the fete, anyone who took their glass back at the end of their visit had a refund, sandwich boxes were all recyclable and plenty of bins were around.

One of the people showing what had come from lockdown for him was Richard Thom of Lapford who discovered the fun of working in metal.  He showed a large arch, decorated gates, huge sunflowers and other items.

“I’ll have a go at anything,” he said.  “I am an engineer at Bristow’s and was furloughed during lockdown, I’m making gates like they used to - it is a bit of fun,” he said.

Andrew King and his wife Cheryl are another pair who used lockdown to create new ideas, now running Andrew King Chocolates of North Tawton.

“I was Head Pastry chef at Gidleigh Park and after lockdown I came up with these ideas for chocolates,” he said.

This year, their first year, their Signature Nine box of nine individual chocolates won them a Platinum Food and Drink Devon Award and a Gold Taste of the West award.  At the moment Andrew and Cheryl make the chocolates in their kitchen.

Almost 25 stalls were around the field including alpacas, Devon Wildlife Trust, Coldridge Crafts, pet portraits, pyrography demonstration, Honiton lace demonstrations, refurbished tools, plus a fun family dog show, North Devon Hawks, the police and fire service, Eggesford Foxhounds, gun dog display as well as games and sideshows and the refreshments.

More than 50 tractors were lined up from Neil and Phil Bragg’s 1920 Waterloo Boy from Coldridge and others right through the years, many from local collections, others from all over Devon and beyond.

Almost 50 classic and historic cars were on show from the early part of the last century into this century, including a Sinclair C5.  Again, many were very local vehicles.

Offering shelter from the early heavy shower of rain was the Flower Festival that is running until the first week of July in the parish church.

On the theme of “A Moment in Time”, the 23 arrangements included those celebrating the work of Coldridge Women’s Institute, Coldridge Quilters, the Toddler Group, the Art Group and the Gardening Club.

There were 17 entries in the scarecrow competition, ingenious entries ranging from Harry Potter to a burglar with his bag labelled Swag.