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Two Christmas Fairs – How Lovely Is That?
I
t’s that time of year again
when days grow shorter
and nights get longer and
thoughts turn to the Festive
season. What better place to
get inspiration for gifts for
family and friends than a
Christmas Fair.
A beautifully lit hall …
It’s been a beautiful autumn
day with dawn to dusk
sunshine. Now it’s a clear cold
November evening and I am
looking forward to my first fair
of the season. of the Hoare banking family. It
provides specialist, palliative
care free of charge and serves
a community of around
750,000 people from Central
and South West London.
I am at St Luke’s Church in
Battersea. It’s a huge red brick
edifice – built between 1883
and 1892 – and it’s Grade 2*
listed. There is nothing here of
the Victorian penchant for
using large grey chunks of
stone to make the building look
Norman. This is built in the
manner of an Italian
Romanesque Basilica and
stands loud and proud in its
surroundings. Tonight it’s the preview evening
of its latest fundraising
endeavour. The admission
price includes a glass of wine,
unlimited nibbles and a really
good quality jute shopping bag
– that’s clever – provided by
the Fair’s sponsor.
The fair is in the enormous
church hall and its run by the
Wandsworth Friends of Royal
Trinity Hospice. This
organisation is the oldest
hospice in the United Kingdom,
founded in 1891 by a member
The hall is beautifully lit with
around 40 stalls. There is an
eclectic mix of jewellery, china,
books, gifts, candles, clothes,
hats, scarves, toys etc. One of
the busiest stalls is a sort of
upmarket jumble sale (except
the goods are new) where
everything is around £5. This
one was ideal for buying
stocking and Secret Santa
presents.
… with close to 40 stalls.
I left laden, but happy. Not only
had I begun my Christmas
shopping but I also felt uplifted
by the surroundings and the
chatter of satisfied shoppers.
LIN KENNEDY
A Second Christmas Fair
I
am at my second
Christmas Fair on a
beautiful sunny day in early
December. Its only three
degrees outside but still
gorgeous.
The fair is at Chelsea Old Town
Hall in the Kings Road and is in
aid of the Chelsea and
Westminster branch of Save
the Children Fund.
This particular branch was
started over 70 years ago just
after the second World War. It
was founded by four women –
A warm welcome …
Nina Guthrie, Gail Hickman,
Con Hooper and Mary May.
Nina was the first to be in the
Chair and when she retired,
Diana Hood took over for many
years. When she stepped down,
the role was assumed by Kate
Guthrie, the original
incumbent’s daughter-in-law
who is still there today. It’s a
testament to the warmth and
fellowship of the branch that it
has only three people at the
helm for its entire existence.
There are currently over 30
committee members and they
still organize at least three
fundraising events a year. These
include the fair I am attending
today. It is affectionately known
as the Christmas Cocktail and
has been going for well over 30
years.
Arriving at Chelsea Old Town
Hall, I was met by a member of
the committee who directed me
to a side entrance as the main
one is undergoing
refurbishment. But once inside
there was a warm welcome.
Entry included a glass of wine,
numerous canapés and
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… along with a glass of wine, numerous canapés and great shopping.
ubiquitous sponsor’s bag. There
were over 60 stalls set out in
the main hall and two ample
side rooms as well as the
connecting corridors. There
were lots of goodies with one
room devoted solely to food
including cheeses, fish,
charcuterie and cakes… as
well as a variety of teas.
The silks, cashmere, wood
wares, candles, jewellery,
decorative items, gifts, toys,
etc were complemented by a
champagne bar and a really
well stocked tombola. It’s a
very sociable occasion and,
having done a lot of shopping,
I couldn’t resist a visit to the
tombola on my way out.
Further laden, I wended my
way down the Kings Road –
one very satisfied customer!
LIN KENNEDY
THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
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