Annual St Keverne ox roast is a sizzling success: PICTURES

Held in the village square, this year’s roast was opened by Patricia Retallack.

Alan Retallack, from the St Keverne Band committee, said: “It was brilliant. There were lots of people and with the great weather, it went really well.”

A host of stalls with local traders, as well as fun activities like raffles and a coconut shy, were available to the large crowds who attended.

Once again, there was live music from the St Keverne Band’s senior, youth and junior bands, as well as local groups Loose Change and Brittle Shins, the latter made up of pupils from Mullion School.

The tradition of auctioning the first slice of the ox meat was held, with Ivor Mann of John Coad & Son in Helston overseeing the sale.

This year Russell and Patricia Retallack took it, with a bid of £205.

The second slice went to holidaymaker David Averre, from Ealing, who had previously visited the ox roast on a past holiday and this year came prepared with plenty of cash, determined to get one of the first slices.

Mr Retallack said he wanted to give his thanks to “everyone who helped and the people of St Keverne for their co-operation and support.”

Gareth Churcher, musical director of St Keverne Band, said: “It is our single most important fundraising day of the year. The money is to raise funds for our three bands to buy things such as instruments, music and fund travel costs for competitions.”

Chairman Monty Bloomfield, one of the band’s longest serving members at 62 years, agreed: “Financially, the event is the most important day of the year.”