Eton May Day Fete celebrates a Historic anniversary

Eton Town Council was delighted to welcome residents and visitors to this year’s May Day Fete, marking the 200th Anniversary of the Glorious Majority—a landmark moment in the history of Eton and Eton Wick. The Council hopes that everyone who attended enjoyed the celebrations and extends sincere thanks to the volunteers, performers, community groups and supporters whose time and dedication made the day such a success.

The event opened in time-honoured fashion with a proclamation from the Town Crier, officially launching an afternoon of festivities. One of the key highlights followed with the unveiling of the new Lammas Land Information Board in Eton Recreation Ground. Representatives from the Open Spaces Society (OSS) described the moment as truly historic, noting that the famous Glorious Majority— which secured the protection of Lammas Land—took place some 40 years before the Society itself was formed.

Celebrations continued with the official opening of the newly refurbished Pavilion by local MP Jack Rankin.

Visitors then enjoyed a full afternoon of traditional music and entertainment. In the main arena, colourful and lively performances from the Susan Handy School of Dance and the Datchet Morris Dancers delighted audiences of all ages and celebrated England’s rich cultural traditions.

Around the Recreation Ground, twelve local community groups joined a range of commercial stalls, creating a bustling village fete atmosphere and offering opportunities to learn more about local activities, charities and businesses. Family-friendly side shows included the ever-popular ‘Basil and Crew’ animal farm, Dog Show and a Car Display. The Eton Wick History Group brought along the photo albums for everyone to look back at our local history. The day concluded with a spirited Tug of War competition.

The May Day Fete was a fitting and joyful way to celebrate our history, heritage and strong sense of community.

Cllr Linda TarboxMayor of Eton Town Council