THE 10th annual Ben Rhydding Community Fete was a fun-filled afternoon for all the family on Saturday.

Taking place on the former field of Ilkley Middle School between Valley Drive and Wheatley Lane, it was officially opened at 2pm by Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Brian Mann, along with organiser and chairman of the Fete Committee, Mrs Karen Palframan.

Visitors were treated to two hours of varied entertainment in the main arena, beginning with performances by the Churches Together in Ilkley 2000 (C.T.I.) Dance Group and the Joze School of Performing Arts.

The Singe’n’swing Jazz Band were then followed by the Ben Rhydding Community Choir, led by musician and composer Keely Hodgson, who sang eight numbers in a mixture of English and African dialects. The choir was followed by the Wright Theatre Arts Dance Academy, and the ladies of the Raks Zina Dance Troupe rounded off the entertainment in the main arena.

Around the arena a wide variety of local clubs, societies, uniformed groups and charities manned stalls, raising money along with their profiles within the community.

Richard Lorimer, of Ben Rhydding Croquet Club organised competitions for both children and adults and other sporting activities included golf challenges and a coconut shy.

St John’s Church provided amongst other things the tea tent, the Singe’n’swing Jazz Band, gate stewards, a Messy Church stall and also the very popular barbecue, which raised funds for the Revival Centre in Matugga, Uganda. Members of the Fete Committee performed various roles to ensure the smooth running of the afternoon, with much hard work having gone on beforehand behind the scenes.

Other forms of refreshments available included the beer tent, sponsored by the Wheatley Arms Hotel, and the Yorkshire Dales ice cream van.

The afternoon ended with the raffle with prizes donated by The Wheatley Arms Hotel, W.T.A. Dance Academy, Melissa Morton Garden Design, Wharfe Photography, Popalicious, Tivoli Cafe Bar, Furniss Butchers and The Green Room.

Mrs Palframan said: “It’s hard to believe that ten years have flown by since a small group of us came together to organise the first Fete in 2006. It has proved ever popular and I’d like to thank the many unsung volunteers who work so hard to organise the event, and the performers who give their time to entertain us.

"We’re particularly grateful this year to Dig it Hire who did a fantastic job clearing all the loose grass from the field. We hope to fix the annual Fete date as the third Saturday in June, so pencil in 18th June 2016! ”