Coronavirus leads to Greatham Feast being cancelled for first time in its 559-year history

Greatham Feast has been held in the village every summer since the 15th Century to bring the community together and is understood to have carried on even during world wars.

The feast was originally held to celebrate the birthday of St John the Baptist on June 24.

It now comprises a four-day programme of activities organised by volunteers with the highlight being a fancy dress parade and fun day on the village green on a Saturday afternoon and attracts hundreds of people from both in and outside Greatham.

But due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s feast – the 559th – has had to be abandoned due to ongoing bans on large public gatherings.

Cheryl Hutchinson of Greatham Feast Committee said: “It will be the first year in 559 years it hasn’t been on.

“Everybody’s pretty gutted. We can’t do anything safely because there’s always thousands at it.

“We decided we are not going to do anything to keep everybody safe.”

Although the Government this week eased some lockdown restrictions, people are currently only allowed to meet up with one person from outside their household in public but must keep two metres (six feet) apart.

That made the traditional parade and fun day on the green impossible.

Greatham Community Centre, which hosted the Bonny Baby Competition, pubs that hosted feast games, and parish church which held special services, are all closed.

Chair of Greatham Parish Council Brian Walker said research for a recent book on the village during the Second World War found records of feast events for two years.

In 1940, a feast picnic was held in the village and a fundraising event in 1944.

For other years where there are no known records, he said: “At the very least there would have been something at the church.

“It has never been cancelled that I’m aware. It’s very unusual this year.

“It’s a unique event and a big day when everyone comes together.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you