Thousands celebrate return of Bradfield Mayfayre

Happy smiling crowds turned out to mark the return of the Bradfield Mayfayre over the Bank Holiday weekend for the first time since the pandemic.

Thousands flocked to the Bradfield Village Hall Playing Fields at Bradfield Southend from midday on Monday to enjoy a wide range of stalls and activities.

The Mayfayre has supported the community with fundraising for more than 40 years, with all proceeds going to local charities and organisations.

Blessed by great weather all day round, guests got to experience the May Queen parade, a dog show and maypole dancing and a live broadcast by Kennet Radio.

"It was absolutely amazing," said organiser Rosemary Balsdon. "There was a lot going on. We had the May Queen, who comes from Bradfield Primary School. The Young Farmers and Bradfield Women's Institute were making teas and the Sea Cadets helped us run the go carts."

She added: "The idea of the Mayfayre is that it gets all the community together and then we distribute the money afterwards to all the local organisations.

"My husband Jim and I have run it for about the last 35 years until he sadly died about two weeks after the last one in May 2019."

And the event is expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds.

But it depends on volunteer support to keep going on. Plans for next year's instalment will be revealed in due course.