I read Bill Kneebone's article 'Plenty of fun at Stratton Church Fete' in the 'Post' last week and felt I had to offer information regarding the date of the last fete. The elderly Strattonian was correct in saying that it wasn't 20 years ago — it was 19!

The last fete was held in July 1990 and was opened by Mrs Kathleen F M Smith, widow of Canon Frederick Smith, one time Vicar of Stratton. After the event, in her letter to the St Andrew's parish magazine, she wrote: "It was such a pleasure to be in Frank Wonnacott's field again; to see the stalls filled with so many different things; to sense the atmosphere of eagerness and friendliness, and last, but not least to be able to meet so many dear and remembered friends."

At the time I was the Churchwarden at St Andrew's and we presented Kathleen with a Dartington Crystal bowl, engraved with the date and Combined Churches Fete, as a token of our thanks and as a memento of the day. This bowl now sits in a cabinet in my home as it was given to me as a bequest from Mrs Smith at her death.

On July 4, 2009 the heavy showers didn't dampen spirits and despite the fact that there hadn't been a fete at Stratton for so many years it proved to be a marvellous event; great fun and an amazing community joyfulness. I feel sure Kathleen would have agreed that it was even better than the last.

Stratton.