A WEEKEND of events in Camelford brought the month-long Charter anniversary celebrations to a close.

The lead up to the weekend of the pageant and fair was busy, starting on Wednesday with Miracle Theatre performing Tartuffe in Enfield Park, arranged by the Maia Group.

On Thursday Trigg Morris danced at the entrance to Enfield Park to the delight of a good crowd.

Then on Friday, councillors and guests were invited to the take part in Ale Tasting, to test the quality of the ale as in medieval times. Starting at the Darlington Inn, then the Liberal Democrat Club, on to the Conservative Club and ending up at the Masons Arms, at each hostelry the Mayor, Cllr Brian Lush, demanding "a glass of beer and give it to my ale tasters that they may taste it and judge of its quality."

Thanks have been extended to the establishments of Camelford — they all gave their ale free for this event. At the Masons Arms the group was joined by the Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir who gave a concert in the garden.

Unfortunately Saturday dawned dull and mizzly, just as the forecast had shown, but undaunted a good crowd gathered outside the museum for the pageant, now a short walk to Sir James Smith's School where the fair was to be held, relocated because of the weather.

Clare Ireland from the Charter committee said: "Our thanks to Mick Weaver and the school for allowing us to use the school and setting it up for us."

Headed by Camelford Town Band and including Rob Tremain, Launceston's Town Crier, and Camelford's very own Lord and Lady Goodman the group made their way up the road. Once inside the day started with a presentation to elected Honoured Citizens of Camelford, a tribute to those whose work for Camelford has been ongoing and important to the community.

Cllr Lush gave a framed citation to Sid Goodman, David and Sally Moore, Geoff and Hazel Kay, Jo Old, Peter Prior and to the late Ron Hart, accepted by his widow Moira.

Then the town crier made a presentation for the best costumes, selected by our costume expert Audrey Copus. He then declared the fair officially open. Music from Myska and Toute Ensemble set the scene for the day, with Cat's Eye Morris' energetic dancing starting the fun. Demonstrations and stalls were all round the main hall at Sir James Smith's School, Tony Vokes demonstrating pole lathe woodturning, Sue Flitter baffling us all with spinning, Jane Talbot-Smith with her beautiful leatherwork, pottery and paintings from Terry and Bill Hedge and face painting by Karen Wills.

There was produce for sale for the Merlin Project and Camelford Town Band, and Ada and Vicky McCormick and Mel Baber manned a tea and coffee stall and made £100 for Camelford Christmas Lights.

Professor Goodvibes gave two sessions of Punch and Judy, enjoyed by children of all ages, and Dan Brazier aka Dan the Juggler took people outside for fire juggling — a damp episode for him, and later a wonderfully entertaining indoor display of juggling and unicycling in the hall, all with the help of children from the audience. Races for the children were held in the gym, organised by Zena Jones and Kathryn Tiplady.

The final event was a Latin Mass held on Sunday evening in Lanteglos Church. A fine example of co-operation, permission was granted by the Bishop of Truro and the Parochial Church Council for this service to take place.

The service was conducted by Father Bryan Storey, and Joanna Raymond-Barker who had initiated and organised this event conducted the choir, drawn mainly from St Mary's Church, Bodmin. Readings were by Reverend Jim Benton-Evans and Clare Ireland. This was a beautiful and moving finale to the Camelford Charter 750 celebrations, and enjoyed by a large congregation.

Clare Ireland told the 'Post' that she was delighted with how the celebrations went — the culmination of a year of hard work.

"It was well worth doing. We want to carry on with something, but we're not quite sure what. There's a feeling in Camelford that is worth building on. People are recognising that it's a very good team."