Bridport’s Community Charter Fair 2024

Bridport’s annual Community Charter Fair will be held on Saturday 18^th May.

Based at Mountfield’s Millennium Green (09.30-15.00) and in Bucky Doo Square (10.00-15.00), this free event will feature over forty Community Stalls, including the Community Shed, and there’s entertainment from fourteen local acts. Refreshments are provided by Brit Valley Rotary, together with a bar by Jurassic Fields Music Festival.

First up at Mountfield is the traditional Maypole Dancing on the Green with the Lyric School of Dance. The Mayor of Bridport will crown the 2024 May Queen.

The Fair’s Annual Awards for service to the community will then be presented by the Mayor.

The 2024 “Above and Beyond” Award for an individual goes to Alan Williams. Alan has for many years contributed funding to local organisations, including the Arts Centre, Bridport Musical Theatre Company, Bridport Young Performers, and Axe Valley Ring and Ride bus service. As reported nationally, he saved the X53 Sunday service between Bridport and Weymouth, for which he was awarded a medal by the Campaign for Better Transport at a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons.

The Charter Fair Trophy for a group or organisation will be awarded to The Ropemakers Pub and its proprietors, John and Geraldine Baker. They said “We’re delighted to have been selected for this trophy. We believe that we are perfectly placed to host events and raise money for charity. We firmly believe that a pub should be for the community and should be the central hub for social events.”

Entertainment throughout the day is offered (at Mountfield) by Rough Assembly, Bridport Steel Band, Bridport Young Performers, Local Vocal, Bridport Musical Theatre, Trumbonium, Wyld Morris, and the Phoenix Youth Band. And in Bucky Doo it’s the Bridport Big Band, Bridport Choral Society, Silver Lining, and duo Shiraz.

The Children’s Area at Mountfield will have face painting and the ever popular “OOPSWOW” Arts Activities, whilst at 10.15 a Magic Show will be presented by Strawberry Jam Entertainments. Following this, Forest School Leader, Kate, will be demonstrating skills which the children and parents can have a go at.

This annual event, arguably Bridport’s most historic, celebrates both the granting of a Market Charter by King Henry III over 700 years ago, and Bridport’s Citizens’ Charter, reflecting the principles of 1998 Human Rights Act, and confirming Bridport as the U.K.’s first Rights Respecting Town.

The Fair is a partnership between Bridport Town Council and the Charter Fair Committee, and the organisers have expressed their grateful thanks for the much-needed sponsorship provided by  Countryside Partnerships and Barratt David Wilson Homes, the Rex Trevett Fund, Bridport Choral Society and Linda Larcombe.

More information can be obtained from Claire.Peters-Way@bridport-tc.gov.uk or a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com, and free programmes are available from the TIC in Bucky Doo Square.