Disappearance of Village Fete Banners Reported As Theft

Published on: 12 Jun, 2017
Updated on: 13 Jun, 2017

The only surviving Ockham Fete banner

Three of four large, canvas banners, advertising the forthcoming Ockham Fete on June 25, have disappeared from their prominent sites on Ripley Roundabout, Ockham War Memorial, and Cobham Roundabout at Sainsbury’s.

Ockham Fete organisers have reported what is thought to be theft to Surrey Police.

The signs, two eight feet long and one five feet long, were taken along with support stakes and reported missing on June 8.

“The cost of the display material is probably no more than £250 to £300 but the value to the fete in terms of advertising and awareness could be substantially more,” says David Scotland, organiser of the annual event.

“Last year we had over 750 visitors to the fete but, with the help of our banner advertising campaign, we were hoping to raise visitor numbers by at least twenty five per cent.”

Fete organisers last week announced a ‘Portrait of Historic Ockham’ photographic competition to spotlight the historic Ockham Village and have been actively promoting the one day fete throughout the borough.

“We like to think we have some of the most beautiful countryside, wildlife, and chocolate box cottages in the county – all of which may provide inspiration for photographers,” David Scotland said at the time.

“The removal of our canvas banners looks like the work of saboteurs hoping to wreck our plans to publicise the fete,” he said today.

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