This year our Summer Fete is taking place on the May Day Bank Holiday, Monday, 7^th May at St. Mary’s School. It will commence at 12.00 noon with a Procession and the Crowning of Our Lady. We would like as many people as possible to take part of all ages. The girls may wear white or pretty dresses if the would like to do so. The May Queen and her attendants will take part in the procession. All are welcome to bring flowers to place by Our Lady. After this we will have the crowning of the May Queen. At approximately 1.00 p.m. the entertainment starts and the fete opens.

During the afternoon we will be entertained by Maypole dancing by year 5 at St. Mary’s and be the St. Mary’s School choir.

Our M.C. for the day will be Dominic Cotter from BBC Radio Oxford.

Also during the afternoon the wonderful band "Phoenix" will be performing. This year we also have bands from BGN called "The Flying Monkeys" and "The Uncommitted", plus local singers and bands including George Deans, Red and Grey and Modern Clichés.

Also for your fun and entertainment we will have a fun 6-a-side football tournament – entry forms are available in the school office or on the church notice board. A tug-of-war contest will also take place and you can enter teams of six – all ages welcome! Thee will be a selection of children’s rides and side-shows, a bucking sheep, soak Aunt Sally and Worzel Gummage, bottle stall, tombolas, raffle, plant and cake stalls. We have a licensed bar from 1.00 p.m. with draught beer and lager, a cider bar, pig roast, hot dogs, cakes, ice cream, candy floss, sweets, teas and coffees.

We would like donations of bottle please for Fr. Paul’s bottle stall. Please bring them to Mass on the weekend of 28^th/29^th April or to the school office. Also teddies which are in good condition. Please donate cakes, home-made or bought, on Friday 4^th May to the school, or 5^th/6^th May to the church, or bring them to the school on the day, Monday, 7^th May. The school will be open from 8.00 a.m.

Finally, please come along and support this event which is to raise money for the Community/Parish Centre that we so desperately need.

Please offer your help if you can for a while on a stall or by setting up/clearing up. A list is in the church porch for names and will also be displayed in the school playground on Friday, 27^th April and 4^th May. Otherwise, please speak to a committee member or contact Nicky Blacker.

Remember to tell your friends and family about this great event.

The ball will take place at The Oxford Belfry Hotel at Milton Common near junction 7 of the M40. As many of you know the ball last year was a wonderful occasion and with your support this one will be too. The ball is being organised jointly by the Social Committee and St. Mary's PTFA. 50% of the money raised will be given to St. Mary's Building Project and 50% to the parish Community Centre Project. Tickets will be on sale et £50.00 each and will include a champagne cocktail, four course dinner, wine on the table, gifts for the ladies plus top-class entertainment including top London showband "Pastiche". To spread the cost tickets can be paid for in three installments by post-dated cheques. We need three cheques dated: 31^st May, 30^th June and 31^st July so however many tickets you buying, divide the cost into three. Or you can pay in one payment. Please make cheques payable to: 'Immaculate Conception No. 2 ac'. If you wish to reserve a table they are for ten people. Indications are that tickets are going to sell quickly as they did last time so please do not wait and be disappointed. Ticket reserve lists are now in the school office and on the church notice board. We are looking for peoplr or companies to sponsor our tables so please ask your employers, friends and family. The minimum is £50.00. For a minimum they will have a table named after them and a mention in the ball programme. If the sponsor wishes they can buy tickets and sit at their table, they would be very welcome. Also we are looking for high quality items for the grand auction, raffle and wishing tree silent auction. Again, please think of anyone you might know who could help us. Items like holidays, luxury goods, days out that monet can't buy!. Even tickets or autographed items, etc

HOTEL ACCOMODATION/COACH TRANSPORT.
Last time 72 people stopped at The Belfry and this time we have negotiated a substantial discount. Bed and breakfast in the beautiful new rooms will be £110.00 for a double and £90.00 for a single room. The hotel has leisure facilities including pool, sauna, gym, tennis courts and croquet. Please indicate how many rooms you require on the ticket reserve list. There will also be a coach that will depart from the church car park at 7.00 p.m. and depart from the hotel at 1.00 a.m. The cost will be between £7.00-£10.00 per person depending on how many are on the coach. Again, please reserve your coach places on the ticket reserve list. If you have any questions, please speak to Nicky Blacker or to any Social Committee or PTFA member.