A DELUGE of rain failed to dampen spirits at Whyteleafe's inaugural fun day on Sunday.

The family event, held at Whyteleafe Football Ground on Church Road, Whyteleafe, was designed to foster community spirit, and encourage people to use local businesses rather than travelling further afield.

And with about 500 visitors, organiser and Whyteleafe district councillor Sakina Bradbury hailed the day a great success.

She told the Mirror: "We're looking to put Whyteleafe on the map – it is easily overlooked, but this is the first place you get to coming into Tandridge.

"It's the gateway to Surrey and we should do more with it.

"Parts of Whyteleafe are derelict and ripe for development. Encouraging community spirit is one way to get people to appreciate what they have here – and to keep shopping local.

"Despite the rain halfway through, when everyone had to run to shelter, it was a fantastic day with a wide range of local traders attending, fabulous entertainment and vintage cars."

The day was held on the same day as the Edenbridge and Oxted Show, and Mrs Bradbury said next year the date might be changed to avoid a clash.

She said: "We picked this Sunday because the football ground was available but will consider the date next time, though there were some people who went to both."

Among the visitors on the day was retired butler and Whyteleafe Hill resident Brian Freeborn, 68, who said the event had been enjoyed by everyone.

He said: "Everyone at the football club made us feel welcome and the organisers had worked very hard to put on a good show. We need more events like this to build community spirit – I hope it's the first of many.

"We could do with a bit of money spent here, too. The highlight for me was the Elvis and Tom Jones impersonator – he was just superb."

Tony Hugh, 72, of Burntwood Lane, Caterham was another visitor on the day. He thought the event had been a huge success, and he had been especially pleased to see young and old people mingling together.

He said: "As a former Whyteleafe resident I was interested to see a family fun day advertised. The event was superb.

"There was a heave of activities in the club house with the bar and catering busy all day."

The day was partly funded by Surrey County Council and the Whyteleafe Helping Hands organisation. A second fun day is expected next year.

For our coverage of the Edenbridge and Oxted Show turn to the next page.

DONKEY-RIDERS galloped their way through the sunshine at a charity fundraiser over the bank holiday.

The Donkey Derby was the star attraction at the Godstone Village Fête on Bank Holiday Monday, which raised thousands for local charities.

Such was the demand at this year's event, there were tailbacks heading back on to Junction 6 on the M25 as cars queued in the sunshine to get in.

The village hall was turned into an arena for people to place their bets on the donkey races.

Simon Abbott, who was holding a stall for the Caterham, Oxted and Godstone (COG) Lions, said: "I tell you what, when the sun comes out it makes such a difference. I don't think I have ever seen as many people at this show before."

Colleague and president of the COGS, Tony Quincey, said they raised over £300 in food and drink alone.

"It has been perfect as we sold out all our hot food in the morning and the cold drinks disappeared after the sun came out," he said.

"What I like about it here is that it is not commercial. All the charities and stands are run by people from the area, so you know the money raised is coming back into Godstone."

As well as the races there were bouncy castles and food stalls for the children, as well as a demonstration from the Godstone Bowling Club.

The Alzheimer's Charity were using the event to promote their Godstone Memory Walk.

Lynne Watson of the charity said: "We have had a great day. The main purpose was to get people involved with our charity walk but we have also managed to sell quite a few things on our stall.

Organisations wishing to become beneficiaries of the fête, have to apply in writing to the committee. They are expected to take an active role in helping run the event. Since 1985, over £100,000 has been given to beneficiaries.

The present committee, are always looking for volunteers to join them.

If you require further details about this year's event, please contact godstonefete@btinternet.com

Gathering support for our Scrap the Plan campaign, Surrey Mirror reporter Owen Evans joined supporters rallying against Surrey County Council's controversial Minerals Plan. Turn to page six.

CAMERAS may have been banned from church while reality TV star Katie Price and her new husband Alex Reid had their wedding blessed, but the Mirror has the next best thing.

While paparazzi gathered outside St Paul's Church in Woldingham on Sunday, July 4, Caterham-based cartoonist Helen Pointer was on the inside – armed with pen and paper.

Former hospital matron Helen, 52, of Tillingdown Hill, was one of a select band of hand-picked invitees at the most-reported wedding of the year.

In an exclusive interview, she spilled the beans on what happened behind the scenes and screens at the wedding, which is still the talking point of the village.

She told the Mirror: "It was all very mysterious. I had a call from someone acting as her agent – but they wouldn't tell me who I would be drawing.

"We were meant to meet before the big day, but she was having a 'moment' over her shoes and so we didn't. But the day itself was something else – we all had to go through a double ended security gazebo and check in our cameras and mobile phones.

And there was such a drama on the day – all the to-ing and fro-ing. It felt like I had to sign a 10-page document just to be allowed in."

Fortunately for Helen, the new Mr and Mrs Reid both loved her sketches, made as she walked around during the ceremony.

She said: "Katie loved the way I drew her hair. And she said she hadn't noticed how lovely Alex's mouth was before.

"I wandered around drawing all the guests – to be honest, I didn't know who most of them were. But when my children watched [the ITV wedding documentary] they certainly did."

Helen said she has only ever had one dissatisfied customer – former Tory MP Edwina Currie.

She explained: "She is the only person to hand a drawing back. I'm still not sure what she didn't like about it – I didn't draw her with egg on her face or wrapped around the prime minister."

To see more of Helen's work go to www.drawnbyhelen.co.uk.