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The Shelford Feast

The Shelford Feast is an annual event which takes place in the village of Great Shelford near Cambridge.

History

The Shelford Feast goes back to medieval times. In the early part of the twentieth century The Feast was held on the sports ground, where Leeway Avenue is now, moving to the land behind the former De Freville Arms in the 1930's. The main feature of The Feast in those days was a funfair with Stanley Thurston Amusements featuring prominently. The Feast continued until the Second World War, the last one being held in 1938 until revived in 1994. "Great Shelford Feast was always held on the second weekend in July and lasted for three days. it was an ancient feast coinciding with the patronal festival of the church of St Mary the Virgin. [the children] dressed in fancy dress and went in processions to the field ... where stalls were set up and games and sports held." The Shelford Feast was revived in 1994 because of concerns about the effects of financial cuts on Shelford Primary School.

Once again a regular village event, The Feast has raised £350,000 since 1994, which has all gone to local good causes, mainly those which help young people.

Great Shelford

Great Shelford is in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the larger village of the two Shelfords, with some 4000 people. There is a school, two churches, three pubs, three garages, a library, a railway station, about twenty shops including a butcher, a greengrocer, a post office and two banks. The recreation ground and the village hall are in the centre of the village and are run by the Parish Council. This is where the Feast is held, normally on the second Sunday in July. The people of Shelford may work in the village, in Cambridge which is only 4 miles away, or they may travel further afield - to London which is 50 miles away or anywhere in the south-east of England by way of a good network of roads and motorways. The pubs act as good meeting places for some, the churches for others. Many meet by way of the primary school, but there are few activities which involve everyone. The Shelford Feast is the main one of these.

Sources

Shelford Feast website [1]

The Making of a Village School (Great and Little Shelford Primary School) 1843-1993 by Marjorie Westbrook