Past Events
Plumpton Village Society
Apple Day 20 September 2025
It has been a bumper year for apples and the apple press was going full pelt on Plumpton’s Apple Day.
Villagers brought their apples along in the barrel loads. It was the most apples we have pressed in recent years and we were told there are more still on Plumpton trees. The apple mush that was left behind was not wasted, all the apple goodness is being returned to the soil at Ashurst Organics.
Thank you all who came to have your apples turned into juice and to all our volunteer helpers, especially Mike and Harvey who took control of operating the village apple press and did a sterling job all afternoon. Many thanks to Aly Owens, Sheila Ponsford and Frances Jeffery and the team of kitchen helpers served delicious homemade cakes and take away apple crumbles. The local honey from Plumpton Beekeepers was a great addition to the afternoon.
We will be back next September and in the meantime, cheers to all those making cider.
Plumpton New Years Day Walk 2026
To Come
Strawberry Fair PVDS Footpath and Stoolball
Strawberry Fair 14 June 2025
The community came together on a sunny afternoon at the Strawberry Fair to celebrate that Plumpton is a great place to be. Many of the local organisations ran stalls promoting their varying interests to residents across the spectrum from those who have lived here all their lives through to new residents. There is truly something for everyone to do in Plumpton and across all ages.
See the Strawberry Fair parish magazine article PECN July 2025 Strawberry Fair Report.pdf
Plumpton’s VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations 5 – 11 May 2025
The Bank Holiday usual damp weather didn’t spoil the events planned to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day on 5 May. Around 160 villagers and friends joined together for a village tea party held in the Village Hall, to celebrate and reflect on the ending of World War Two.
On 8 May the actual anniversary, five of our Plumpton residents, who were themselves children on VE Day, talked to today’s Primary School children about their memories of that time, really bringing history alive for our children. Our thanks go to Reg Lanaway, Jean Eagle, David Stone, Len Davies and Beryl Yassin.
Around 70 villagers left the Half Moon and climbed the Downs to see Mount Harry Beacon being lit by Hamsey and East Chiltington Parish Councils at 9.30pm.
A Lamplight Procession of Peace through Plumpton Green was also held and it was just as memorable. Starting at the top of the village, and as darkness fell, it ended on the station bridge. It was exciting to see a flicker of light as the beacon was lit, and then beam out brightly from the top of the Downs.
On Sunday 11 May, our war exhibition material was back on display at Plumpton Racecourse, where they celebrated 80 VE Day with a replica Spitfire and Anderson shelters, on their last race day of the season.
Strawberry Fair 15 June 2024
Plumpton Village Society were not daunted by rain and 40mph gusts and the Strawberry Fair went ahead in our flexible village hall facilities with the main hall being full of local clubs and societies stalls and the stage was the performance area. The dog show was able to go outside as the sun shone for the 3pm judging.
Angie Cool our new Committee member got up at the crack of dawn to get fresh strawberries from a local wholesaler.
The community came together in the spirit of Plumpton to enjoy the day whatever the weather.
Wings Youth Theatre Group kicked off the afternoon entertainment with a selection of songs from their performances over the years.
Turning Pointe Dancers on the stage to delighted parents and villagers alike.
Thank you everyone for making this a successful strawberry fair.
Plumpton Apple Day 21 September 2024
Plumpton Village Society and Plumpton & District Horticultural Society came together to hold a community afternoon at the Village Hall. Villagers enjoyed the annual apple pressing with entertainment on the bandstand, plus a great selection of stalls. There was also children’s apple games and a tractor. The Horticultural Society Autumn Show was held inside the large hall. The kitchen team were busy, with a range of refreshments including for the first time, delicious homemade take away apple crumbles. Yummy!
Villagers came out to support this community event and we were joined by our new MP, James MacCleary. Here are some memories of a great afternoon.
Apple Day October 2021
Heavy rain did not stop Plumpton’s annual Apple Day going ahead on Saturday 2 October on the village green and in the hall. Stalls were moved inside, and the pressing went ahead under cover of the bandstand.
The press was in operation continuously from 11am to 2pm staffed by volunteers and turning thousands of Plumpton apples into gallons of delicious juice. Residents young and old got involved, pouring apples into the masher, and winding the press.
See Full Apple Day parish magazine article
9 April 2022
Pop Up Market
To come
26 June 2021
Strawberry Fair 2021
At last the first Village Fair for a while, and whilst Covid restrictions were not lifted as envisaged, over 700 people came to the Village Green to be a community once again. The Fair was opened by Revd Anne, followed by community awards, a children’s fancy dress, pantomime comedy sketch/song, dancing from Turning Pointe and a dog show. With stalls around the green and refreshments too. Even the sun shone!
3 October 2020
Apple Pressing
The apple pressing team of Mark Haywood, Mike, Gail & Will Murphy, and Ruth Segal have successfully run the Plumpton apple pressing for 10 years. This was their last year and one to remember given the need to do the pressing in a Covid safe way.
12 December 2020
Christmas Walk By Market
Plumpton Village Society put on a Christmas Walk by Market on 12 December to bring some festive cheer to the Village. Kindly sponsored by Plumpton Racecourse as a thank you to the Village for any disruption due to the Covid testing station. There were 8 Christmassy stalls, supported by Christmas Music to get into the festive spirit.
See full Village Christmas Walk By Market parish magazine article
April 2020
The Village Society is Formed
In July 2019 a Summer Event was held on the Village Green, to open the Bandstand and unveil the new World War 1 Memorial Bench created by Plumpton College Students. Villagers enjoyed this Community Event and to keep the momentum going, calls were made to make this a regular event. A meeting was held on 10 February at the Plough to work out how to create a community group. In April Plumpton Village Society was formed with plans to hold a traditional Village Summer Fair. Whilst this could not happen due to the Covid 19 pandemic, safe Community events were held in 2020.
25 July 2020
Village Pop Up Market
After weeks of glorious sunshine, it, of course, rained on Saturday 25th July, the day of the village market!! But the rain didn’t deter the 25 stall holders, nor the 29 volunteers and 225 of the good people of Plumpton & East Chiltington who turned out in force.