Chiddington Summer Fete

A Wet Story work of fiction by Sally Forth.

Ten committee members had turned up for the meeting chaired by Rev John Torridge.

The Reverend Torridge was desperately trying to gain back the confidence of his flock ever since some of the pies and cakes were destroyed in the Bake & Cake Sale two months ago.

The Rev had no Idea it was his own son Paul and his girlfriend Sam that had managed to accidentally wreck the two tables of exhibits, but Janet, the vicars younger wife had her suspicions when she found some strange websites in the family computer history.

Paul had been using it to look at the UMD Messmaster site with Sammie.

Janet challenged him about it, and asked if he knew why foodstuffs had gone missing from her cupboards.

Paul had denied all knowledge but had gone beetroot red when challenged by his mother. However for now she decided it best to keep quiet about her suspicions.

Tony Wilson lived with his wife Susan, and they were both 28. He was a joiner by trade, and he owned his own joinery business a few miles outside the village.

Susan was a co-member on the village fete planning committee and tonight she and her husband were due to host the annual meeting at their house to plan the summer fete for Chiddington Village. Reverend John Torridge was the chair and arrived with Janet in tow.

Tony sat listening to the same old suggestions and Ideas from the committee and smiled to himself. Susan was frustrated and finally she stood up and announced that as good as some of the suggestions were, they were just not appealing to the fete visitors.

A murmur went round the table as she reminded the committee last year they had only raised £300 and after hire of the marquee it left a paltry profit of £51.50.

Sorry ladies and gents, but the White Elephant stall, is just that. A White Elephant! We have to come up with some new novel and fun ideas if we expect to raise funds for the village. She said.

She was looking for help, but just got blank looks as the table fell silent, with much head shaking as the members racked their brains to come up with something different for this year.

Finally Tony spoke up.

Look, I know Im not on the committee, but I have an idea that is slightly different from the run of the mill tombola stuff, not that there is anything wrong with that, he added quickly as he saw peoples faces drop.

So whats your suggestion Tony? John asked.

Well, I was reading a book on Chiddington Village life in Victorian times, and according to the parish records Chiddington used to hold an annual event on Midsummers day down at the village pond.

The Village Pond? What are you suggesting rowing boats, Tony? Janet asked.

Tony smiled and said No Janet, I was thinking of re-introducing the village ducking stool

Janet looked at Tony, then at Susan, You cant be serious in this day and age!

The committee started to chuckle but Tony looked at them and said.

No, I am serious. I reckon we can do it and I have some other Ideas that will generate income.

And where would we get a ducking stool? John asked in a disbelieving voice.

Easy, I will make it for you, and for free, all I ask is for some help in setting it up, AND. Tony paused Some committee volunteers to use it on the day. All we need is to draw attention to it, and then with luck public interest will do the rest

Well as its for a good cause, you can put my name down. Susan said, looking directly at the committee members.

Mine too! said Stella the postmistress, What about you Janet, you up for it?

Janet looked at her husband, and then at Susan and finally agreed adding.

I could also help make the costumes for you all, so you look like Victorians.

What a marvelous Idea Susan said, and the whole room agreed with her.

Within a few minutes most of the committee had said they would be willing to have a go.

Brian said he would provide one of his Lorries to collect the device, and enough man power to heave it into position on the day.

Next morning Tony enlisted the help of a couple of his employees and together they dragged in some old telegraph poles from the yard.

His foreman was given some sketchs Tony had done, and asked to build the device. Two weeks later it was completed and he and the guys tested it in the big open yard behind Tonys workshop.

Despite being made from re-salvaged wood, his men had made a wonderful job of it. The seating area of the stool had been sanded down, and varnished. It contained a safety cage so the Victim as Tony called them could not fall out accidentally.

The whole thing was over twenty five feet long, and had a pivot gimbal at five feet in, that sat on a large three sided A-Frame. The gimbal allowed the stool to be moved in both the horizontal and vertical planes at the same time.

The cleaver part of Tonys design was the counter weight balance. It consisted of twelve solid steel railway carriage wheels that sat on a spindle. Each one could be locked in various positions with a wooden peg to stop them moving and to balance the pole weight.

Even with an eighteen stone guy in the chair, the whole thing could be balanced to be raised and lowered with the lightest touch from one hand.

It was now early June, and the fete was on the 1st of July, the long range weather forecast had predicted temperatures into the mid 30s, and everyone was feeling optimistic.

Paul and Sammie had designed posters and leaflets and had distributed them to all the local houses and put posters up in neighbouring towns.

On the day Brian turned up with his lorry and six beefy drivers who loaded Tonys device onto the lorry. Tony then showed Brian his other creation and that was loaded on as well.

By 9.30am the stool was installed at the edge of village pond, which actually more resembled a large lake as it was over 50 feet across. Tony knew at its center it was at least twelve feet deep, and so he had made the boom big enough to reach the center point.

Next he unloaded the other telegraph pole that had a guide wire stretched between each end that was four feet above the pole itself. The pole was lifted into position across one edge of the lake, and at each end he had built a set of steps that also formed the cradle for the pole.

It was now 10.00am, and the temperature had risen to 25 degrees, it was going to be a hot day thought Tony. By 11.00am when the fete opened over a thousand people had paid their 50 pence admission fee to the delight of the committee.

This year all the attractions were doing well.

Mr Torridge knew it was part due to the advertising Paul & Sammie had done in promoting Tonys ducking stool in all the surrounding villages.

He picked up and read one of their leaflets: Feeling Hot This Summer? Then why not visit Chiddingtons Summer Fete, and cool down in one of our brand new water attractions for this year. Watch our dedicated committee members get a soaking, or sign up for a go yourself. Go On Splash Out!


The first committee ducking was due to take place at 12.00pm. It was Susan, Tonys wife and she was wearing a Victorian style dress that Janet had made for her specially.

As Susan took her place on the stool, there was a huge cheer and round of applause. Tony now addressed the crowd over the PA and explained the rules to them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to present Susan Wilson to be judged by you all today. If you feel that she deserves putting under then I require you to raise the ducking fee, which for this wench is priced at £50.

He had no idea of how much to ask for, and just blurted out the first figure that came into his head.

As soon as he said it at least a hundred hands went up, each paying the minimum of £1. When the clamoring died down the Vicar was amazed to have taken close to £200. He gave the thumbs up to Tony.

Tony pushed down on the weighted end, as Susan silently rose twenty feet into the air. Then Tony gave the control end of the pole a shove and Susan whipped round and round over the heads of the crowd, and lake till she felt quite dizzy.

The crowd were cheering and clapping as Tony slowed it down right over the lake, and then started to countdown 5-4-3-2-1 and then he pulled up on the control end, and down Susan went with a huge splash into cold murky water.

The height, angle and length allowed Tony to fully immerse the stool at a depth up to 6 feet below the surface, and that is exactly what he did with his brave wife.

He was very careful to time the underwater sections to a ten second maximum, and had already told all the volunteers to hold their breath as they go under.

Poor Susan looked like a drown rat when he pulled he up. Her neat blonde waves hung down her face limply, and her Victorian dress was plastered to her body showing everyone all her natural curves.

As soon as she reached the full height, Tony allowed the stool to fall again, and back in she went with another splash.
Everyone was laughing and what amazed Mr Torridge were people clamoring to put their name down for a go.

After another two dunkings Susan was brought still smiling back to the landing stage, and took a huge bow in front of the cheering crowd.

Next it was the turn of Janet. She had made herself a short white cassock tied round her waist with a simple rope.

Her hair was in a tight bun and she looked more like the village bumpkin as she took her turn on the stool.

The Vicar asked for £100 to allow his pretty young wife to be dropped in the drink, and before long she had raised over £250 in pledges.

John Torridge could not believe how popular the event was developing into, and while the donations were being collected, he gave Tony the thumbs up.

As before Tony swung her high above the crowd who clapped and cheered her on as she jeered and shouted fake threats to the crowd saying if they allowed her to be dunked she would curse them all.

Janet was really entering into the spirit of the occasion, and wore a big grin, as she was plunged deep into the cooling water of the lake.

As she emerged there was a gasp from the growing crowd, as it became clear she had no underwear on under the soaking wet cassock.

Her breast outlines were on full view to the screaming crowd as Tony dunked her below the surface for a second time.

Reverend John Torridge meanwhile, was too busy taking donations and putting names down on the list to see what everyone was shouting and screaming about.

When she came up her hair had escaped from the tight bun, and covered her erect nipples that were now poking through the thin cotton of her cassock.

Janet wriggled in the cage Tony had constructed shaking her fists in mock anger to the now hysterical public below.

Down again, and this time he gave her the full ten seconds below the surface. She emerged spluttering, her cassock now completely see through, and hair flattened down her back exposing the outline of her womanly breasts to the full view of everyone.

Tony swung her ashore, and lowered the stool onto the landing stage. Gillian, her best friend draped a big towel over her shoulders and covered her clearly visible boobs. She whispered to Janet what had happened, but Janet just shrugged and laughed.

John Torridge was next up and Janet grabbed the mike, and started to ask for £50 minimum, one cheeky guy said he would give £25, but only if she took her towel off.

Eager to raise as much cash as possible, Janet shrugged it off her shoulders and another cheer went up. Eventually Mr Torridge made the £75 and was circled around like the two women before him.

Dressed in a Victorian clergy outfit Janet had made, he too entered into the spirit of the event and held his nose as Tony let him fall very slowly beneath the cold water.

So far they had raised £475 and they still had another seven willing committee members to auction off and then it would be the turn of the general public to have a go on Tonys stool.

As Tony brought him onto land, John noticed his wifes breasts were clearly visible. He blushed and whispered to cover herself up. Janet laughed and said no point, everyone has seen them now.

John was acutely embarrassed, but did not want to spoil the occasion and certainly the villagers had enjoyed the events so far, so he decided to keep quiet and let things continue.

Stella the village postmistress was next. Stella was 35 years old and a single mother. She wore a long black skirt with a bustle. Her creamy white button up blouse bore the post office insignia on the lapels.

Tony swung her high over the heads of the public, while the Rev talked up the fundraising. As soon as bidding hit the fee asked, she was dropped from the full height into the lake, the water splash as she hit almost reached the sides of the lake.

Tony lifted her out and spun her round, pouring water down onto the public below who clapped her as she sailed over, and then down again into the cold muddy lake.

When she was landed she was laughing hysterically and feeling slightly dizzy from the spinning fell off the landing ramp back into the mud below.

When she managed to climb out she was still laughing, her face was covered in mud, and her white blouse was now a muddy brown, and her nipples were clearly visible under the thin wet muddy blouse.

Tony had noticed that so far all of the female committee members had gone bra-less, and he wondered if it was Susans idea or Janets. He smiled to himself that was one sure way to whip up public interest.

Tony now announced the events would now switch to the other side of the lake as the Spar-Log was about to open. The crowd had now swollen to nearly 1500 people and they made their way round to the other side of the lake.

John Torridge had changed out of his wet clothes, and now started to call order to the next event.

As he explained the rules two men were now busy rubbing packets of lard over the telegraph pole.

The first participants were Paul and his girlfriend Sammie. Both Paul and Sammie were dressed in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

They climbed up onto the pole barefoot, and gripping the overhead line and balanced out to the center where they gently sat down on the greasy pole.

A pugil stick was handed to each of them, and they bravely took swings trying to dislodge each other from the greasy pole.
Paul caught Sammie across her head and she started to loose grip with her thighs.

She slid slowly upside-down and dropped her stick into the water followed swiftly by Sammy herself as she completely lost her grip, and plunged head first into the lake.

A cheer went up as she disappeared below the murky water, followed by a round of applause as she surfaced and swam ashore.

The men at the lake edge where whooping out loud as Sam stepped out of the water.

Her white T-shit had turned totally transparent and showed off her large boobs much to the delight of the guys near the front who could see everything.

Paul now dived in and swam ashore. He kissed Sammie and together they ran off to get dried off in the contestants tent.
As the next two committee members stepped up to the greasy Spar-log, the ducking stool was being opened for the general public.

A queue of over fifty people were waiting to have a go on the ducking stool, the vast majority of them were wives and girlfriends.

Ann was a 29 year old mother of two children and had been put forward by her husband and children as she was always nagging.

Laughing as she was put in the cage, she said she would make them sorry for putting her forward.

Her husband handed over the twenty pounds and watched as his wife was hoisted high into the air.

Tony told her husband that for an extra ten pounds he could control the stool, and so he and the kids were now swinging her round in circles as she screamed helplessly above their heads.

Now it was time for her punishment and her children stopped the stool over the deepest part of the lake.
They lowered Ann still screaming slowly into the water up to her bottom.

The children then let go, and thanks to Tonys counterweights she just bobbed around as the crowd screamed DUNK, DUNK, DUNK at her husband.

He waved to her, and then slowly pulled up on the control, as into the cold depths she plunged while Tony began to count down from ten.

When she was lifted out she was bedraggled. Her hair so neatly styled before her dunking lay dripping down her face, and water was pouring from her summer dress, which stuck to her body like glue.

For good measure she was given another three dunks, each to a cheer from the audience, and then brought back onto dry land.

Stepping out she shoved her husband, who fell off the landing ramp, face first into the muddy lake edge.

TAKE THAT! She laughed as he got up covered in slimy mud as his children laughed at the state of mum and dad.

Kasey was next up, egged on by her friends. She was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and Tony suspected probably nothing else under the shirt.

Grabbing the mike, he tried to talk up the crowd. Her friends had already paid the £20, but he knew a pretty girl would bring in a lot of donations.

Guys, come on, whos going to give me a pound to see this beautiful young lady take an early bath.

Dozens of hands went up and the pound coins were thrown into the large bucket Tony was holding, as Janet and Susan placed Kasey into the stool over by the landing stage.

Kasey asked Susan if her friend Amy could come on with her, and pointed to a slim built girl by the landing stage.

If you dont mind squeezing up, the stool will handle your combined weight no problem Susan said, and as her friend squeezed in Tony started to tout for more donations.

Come on two girls! Youre in for a treat so get your money out ladies and gents he called

Janet whispered something to Kasey and Amy, and they nodded. Just then Tony lifted the screaming girls up high in the air as their friends laughed and clapped them.

There were some teenage boys near the front chanting IN.. IN.. IN.. at Tony, as he gave the girls a lap of honour over the heads of the public below.

He decided to have some fun with them and pulled a little lever on the side of the pole as he drew them slowly up to full height.

He pulled up the control, and the stool descended rapidly down with the girls still screaming.

Their feet hit the cold water, and suddenly the stool stopped, its decent halted by the safety brake he had built in.

The boys faces were a picture as the disappointment of not getting the girls soaking wet got them agitated.

Tony said he thought that two girls deserved more donations, and the lads raised another ten pounds and handed it to Tony.
IN IN IN came the chant from the teenage boys once more

Lifting them up for the second time, Tony slipped the brake off, and gave the control a huge tug.

The descent was so fast that the girls hair was standing on end as down into the cooling water they plunged.

He bobbed them in and out going up a couple of feet before dropping them back in again.

Then he pulled them out and swung them very slowly six feet above the heads of the teenage boys, who were being soaked as the water ran off the laughing girls.

The boys then started a new chant OFF OFF OFF they screamed as first Kasey, and then Amy pulled off their T-shirts and threw them down into the waiting arms of the boys who grabbed the two wet garments like trophies.

Tony swung them back out over the lake. The girls had their arms outstretched as if on a fairground ride, their naked breasts dripping in water.

Tony left them to descend in a slow falling arc, so everyone could get a good view of the two girls as they submerged below the water for a fourth time.

When he brought them out he saw Amy had now removed her miniskirt and was now only wearing a small pair of pink panties to spare her blushes.

As they went overhead she dropped her skirt into the outstretched arms of the boys who were jumping up in an attempt to reach the girls, who once more found themselves being plunged below.

The crowd loved it, and not one person complained. When the two girls were finally allowed back on land, a good 15 minutes longer than any other riders, they were given huge rounds of applause by the public.

Janet collected Kasey and Amys clothes from the boys, who were disappointed not to be able to keep them, and she ushered the two topless girls into the contestants tent near the lake to get dried and dressed.

When the fete closed at 7.00pm the committee met at the beer tent, where the treasurer reported the estimated total takings were in excess of £5000 for day.
Reverend Torridge turned puce when he heard about the topless girls escapade, but got a huge laugh when he said aloud God protect us from the sins of the flesh

Tony was thanked in the only way the committee could think of..by being dunked in his own ducking stool along with Susan and Janet who had helped make the event so popular.

Next year I was thinking of building a gunge tank booth! he said soaked to the skin and still smiling as he kissed and cuddled up to his dripping wet wife.

Paul and Sammie said they would put their names down, if it was a twin seat booth.

Tony said it would be easy to make slightly wider and Janet nodded as her suspicions were confirmed by the pairs rapid agreement to get messy together.

Excited by the prospect for next year, Paul and Sammie slipped away back to the vicarage, as they knew Pauls mum and dad would be tied up for hours clearing up the fete.

Once more the two of them raided the food cupboards for an extra special messy session to end the day with.

The end. Sally Forth. November 2011.