What a turnout! – our RFS Members’ Evening before Rowell Fair 2023!

Tonight was devoted to the Fair’s Showmen and their families, where the evening had a distinctively nostalgic feel to it! In a higher-than-usual attendance of over 60 people at the Conservative Club, events got underway just after 8pm.

Daughter of the Lord of the Manor, Louise Holborow and her husband, Crispin were there too.

And if you thought Bingo and watching/listening to past Rowell Fairs couldn’t be combined – you’d be wrong! Stay tuned!!! 😉

Rowell Fair’s President, Paul Johnson opened the evening with his usual warm welcome and took the opportunity to request a minute’s silence for Members who were no longer with us. This included Alan Marlow, Richard Dexter, Trevor Smith and Norman Robinson. Rest in Peace.

With our respects duly paid, this was followed by Secretary, Sue Johnson, setting the scene for the evening. With Treasurer, Paul Cottell taking care of monies received and with the Bar in full swing, Rowell was ready for the evening! If that wasn’t enough, the legendary Rowell Fair Raffle began with our very own Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor, Frank York doing a great job of selling tickets!

Guess the Year!

With everything (and everyone) in their place, our first event of the evening was ‘guess the year’. A vinyl record was played of The Ancient Charter being proclaimed by the then Bailiff, Norman Hall and our audience was invited to work out from WHICH year it was recorded. Answers (not on a postcard) but on paper, created a competitive atmosphere where the promise of prizes focused everyone’s mind (and ears!). Kindly donated by The Charnel House that bottle of fizz was never more desired! 😉. PS it was 1970!

Bingo 1!

With everyone now in the mood for competition, next up was our first ‘Film Bingo‘. The rules were simple: watch the film and mark off on your Bingo Sheet when certain scenes within the film are observed. Once you have all the scenes circled, shout out! Thirty minutes later, we had a number of completed sheets, so names were put in a hat and drawn at random by Paul who awarded prizes to the first three.

Life Membership Awards

Whilst prizes were assembled for RFS’s first foray into Film Bingo, Frank and Paul announced the Life Membership Awards.

First tonight to receive this was Wayne Woods for his long time support of the Society, Fair traditions and particularly his help in preparing for the arrival of the Street Fair.

The second recipient was Showman, Charlie Appleton who has been attending Rowell Fair for many years with a variety of rides and is a friend of the Society. Charlie was was very complimentary about our very own Charter Fair and the welcome we give to the Showmen and their Families.

Free Rides!

In a first for Rowell Fair, for one night only!, we issued free ride vouchers to all paid-up members. Suffice to say, demand was high!

Bingo 2

Not content with our first Bingo session, after a short break, we introduced our second (and final) ‘eyes down’ for the evening, where once again, three key prizes were awarded. This time, the theme was ‘The Proclamation and Fairground‘ and where just as earlier, eagle eyes were a minimum requirement! 🙄

Both film sessions were from 1991, Norman Hall‘s final year as Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor.

The evening concluded with the Raffle Draw and a final thank-you and looking forward to seeing everyone during Fair Week, from Frank York.

All-in-all, another great Members’ Evening and good to see the Showmen and their Families.

#RowellFair2023
#RowellFairSociety