Despite the rain on Bank Holiday Monday – Le Marché 2008 was just as busy and the people of Heathfield and surrounding areas came out to enjoy themselves and to listen to all the free music and to buy both French and English produce and gifts.
The FreePark and Ride from Heathfield Market Car Park (our thanks to Tim Watson for the use of this again) worked perfectly. As in previous years, both KingsChurch and HuffleNursery School supplied the mini-buses and the drivers. In addition, we had to bring in extra buses from outside to cope with the ever increasing crowds. The Heathfield & Waldron Rotary Club manned the Car Parks.
The Heathfield Fire & Rescue Service had their open day after they had dressed the town with bunting and flags, with rides on an Old Dennis fire engine which took the children around with the ringing bells. Heathfield’s new Fire Engine was also on display.
KingsChurch as usual was very busy; they provided teas and refreshments, bouncy castle, face painting and activities for the children and very welcome shelter from the showers. Marco, the magician, performed his Punch and Judy show, and, along with Andy Bosco, performed tricks up and down the High Street to keep everyone amused.
Union Church, as part of Churches Together, provided rest facilities and refreshments. Miss Sue Mumford said that they were as busy as last year and they had bumper sales.
The free entertainment kept everyone’s spirits lifted throughout the day; with the pulsating drumming of Dojo and Tricky Beats, the Flamenco dancers of Duende, the classical Strings of the Haysden Quartet, the foot tapping Jazz of the Angel Hart Trio and the stars of the day - The Blues Brothers – and it is rumoured that they have already been booked for next year.
The first SK8 skating event at the Heathfield skate park was a huge hit with the youngsters. The refurbished park was decorated with colourful graffiti by the youngsters of Heathfield Youth Centre and the skating demonstrations and competitions were organised by Eastbourne Skaters Association who were hired in for the day. What a success and the kids want more!!
The Window Dressing Competition was judged by Mrs. Danielle Proud, Journalist for The Times Style magazine and an Interior Designer. The winners were 1st In Bloom 2nd Demelza 3rd Pollen-Nation.
Highly Commended went to Darcey, Trading4U and The Pig Sty. Graeme Mackenzie of Martlet Wines supplied prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
Photographs of all the fun and spectacle of Le Marché 2008 can be found on the Heathfield & Waldron Parish Council website www.hwpc.org.uk
The Le Marché printed brochure is sponsored by the Heathfield traders and local businesses by their adverts – this gives us the funds to enable us to stage such a spectacular day of entertainment for Heathfield. Our grateful thanks go to them for their generous support – without them we could not organise the day.
Sadly, Graham Porter (Chairman) Isabella Porter, Len Lucas and Sue Williams will be stepping down from the Le Marché committee and we thank them for all their hard work and commitment.
We are pleased to announce that Mike Woodhouse of HuffleNursery School has taken over as Le Marché Chairman and staging such an event involves a lot of hard work and our committee is made up of volunteers. We are always looking for new members to join our team to help before and on the day – it really is fun to be involved with the organisation of Le Marché.
If you feel you can give some time and wish to join our group then please contact Mike on 01435 867800 or 0770 353 0111 to learn some more. We will start planning in February for Le Marché 2009!!
New Le Marché web site coming soon - www.heathfieldlemarche.co.uk – watch this space.
Finally and most importantly, thank you to all of you for coming out in the rain on Bank Holiday Monday – it makes all our hard work worthwhile and keeps Heathfield on the map as a place to visit again and again.