Fonthill Lodge - School Fete


Fonthill Lodge school pupils were singing with joy in the sunshine at their biggest-ever annual fete held in the 40 acre grounds in Coombe Hill Road.  The songs were enjoyed by the visitors and broadcast live on community radio station Meridian FM which brought a mobile studio.  The school also welcomed performances by the Marlings Morris Dancers and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations by Fortitude Academy. 
 
Other community organisations taking part included the East Grinstead Beekeepers Association which brought a glass display working beehive and the East Grinstead Model Engineers which ran a passenger-ride steam train on tracks around the fete. Outdoor activities were run by the Nautical Cadet Corp and the Beat the Goalie stall was run by the 6th EG Beaver Scout Group.  The Last Chance animal rescue centre and Cats' Protection also had stalls, West Sussex Police brought a police car and the Fire Brigade brought a fire engine for the children to discover.  Bishop Barham of Rwanda brought crafts from Rwanda to raise funds for the Fonthill Lodge classroom at St Matthews School in Rwanda.  Year 6 boys and girls ran their own stall in aid of Cancer Research UK .
 
A highlight as ever was the Headmaster's Privileges Stall where pupils win the chance to have special privileges such as choose the menu, bring a pet to school or choose a fancy dress theme for a home clothes day.
 
They say money doesn't grow on trees but it was at the Fonthill Fete.  The children paid 50p at the Money tree stall to pick an envelope from the tree and won every time the smallest win was 20p and the most was around £4.00!!
 
The organisers of the school's summer holiday programme, Supercamps, ran a go-kart slalom track which was busy all afternoon.  The parents manned stalls and BBQ'd whilst their children wandered in the safety of the sun-filled school field, having a go at biscuit-decorating, china smashing, laser games, a treasure hunt and a giant bouncy castle slide.  In fact there were a few adults having a go at the china smashing too!
 
The Co-Chairman of the Friends of Fonthill Lodge, Michelle Taylor said "The children have had such fun.  We were so delighted that organisations in the local community came to join in the fun of our annual fete and raise funds and awareness for their own projects".  Her fellow Co-Chairman, Frances Lawler added "During the past eighteen months the Friends of Fonthill Lodge have raised over £10,000 for extra equipment around the school, including a climbing wall for the senior school and a living willow adventure tunnel for the pre-prep children.  The main emphasis at the fete, though, was on having fun".