Kimpton May Festival
(if anyone has any photos of past May Festival to add to this slide show, please contact Catherine Tees on webadmin@kimpton.org.uk)
see also What's On
Photograph courtesy Catherine Tees
The idea of a May Festival to raise money for the Church was
first mooted by Helen Price at a Parochial Church Council meeting. At that
time a lot of money had just been spent on building Church House and death watch
beetle had been discovered in the Parish Church. Helen, Pat Peck and Pam Martin,
the vicar's wife, organised the first May Festival in 1965. Ron Hyde, as the village
milkman, was the ideal person to persuade people to take part and to advertise
the event on his rounds whilst having the outgoing personality ideally suited to
Master of Ceremonies. 
He continued in this role until 1992 whilst also being
Chairman and prime mover in getting the Festival off the ground. Sadly, in
February 1993 he suffered a stroke and was unable to run the Festival any more.
The Festival, however, has gone from strength to strength over recent years and is the highlight of the year in Kimpton. It runs over three days during the May Day Bank Holiday. On the Saturday afternoon, there are stall on the Recreation Ground run by many of the village organisations, and arena events running simultaneously.
Running for most of the week-end is a Craft Market, Art Exhibition, and Cream Teas (with Jazz Band on one of the days), In addition there is a sponsored run, football match, and entertainment in the evenings.
See also What's On
