The month long Hangleton and Knoll Festival got off to a (mostly!) sunny start last weekend with a Spring Fair on St Helen’s Green. As well as face painting, a bouncy castle, pony rides and sideshows, visitors were treated to performances by C-Dance, a local dance club for children who impressed the crowd with their talent and enthusiasm!

Local Children’s club Fun4 Kids presented a selection of their favourite songs, and newly formed local singing group The Hangleton Honeys were there to perform some traditional favourites. This was one of their first public performances after getting together whilst on a course entitled Singing for the Terrified…The course seems to have worked wonders for these women, who gamely ignored one of the sudden showers of the day AND their nerves to bring us their selection of songs!

Visitors were also treated to a glimpse of history, thanks to the Napoleonic re-enactors, who demonstrated life in the Napoleonic era and answered questions from fascinated local children.

There are still a variety of festival events lined up for the next four weeks, details of which can be found on the festival website. This Wednesday there are two children’s activities, a ‘Make and Munch’ cooking activity for the under 5’s at St Richards in the morning, and the return of the drop-in ‘craft workshops’ at the Pavilion Café in Knoll Park after school. Details of both are on the website, www.haknollfest.org.uk, or you can contact the festival secretary, Caroline Shears, on 01273 235 721.

On Thursday there is a ‘silver surfer’ event at Hangleton library, with computer T-shirt designing and access to various useful websites. More information is available on the Hangleton Library page of the city council website.