Festival of the Plough was ‘very popular’

This time, the Festival of the Plough had all the old traditional favourites alongside new and exciting activities, including a school’s scarecrow competition.

The event started with the blessing of the plough, then visitors were treated to vintage tractor and horse ploughing, steam threshing, fair organs and a steam carousel, folk and other dance, a craft exhibition, circus workshops and donkey rides, terrier racing and a poultry show, vintage cars and full on-site catering with a beer tent.

Publicity officer Tricia Murphy said: “The festival was very successful. It was very, very popular. It was excellent. We had high visitor numbers and lots and lots of people said it was a really good show.

The Rotary Club of the Isle of Axholme helped with this year’s event, and joined the Festival committee in deciding a winner of a trophy for the best dressed window.

Fountain Court Florist won first place, followed by Wishing Well card ship in second, Gravel and Sons greengrocers in third and Inside Outside gift shop in fourth.

All the winners received framed certificates.

Their were two cups of for grabs with the scarecrow competition, the key stage one infant cup and the key stage two junior cup, and both were won by Westwoodside Church of England primary school.

All proceeds went to local charities. It is not yet known how much money was raised, but once the final total is announced charities will be invited to a presentation evening in November at Thurlow Pavilion, Epworth, where they will be given donations.

See the Epworth Bells next week for full coverage and photos.