2019
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 30th November, was opened by Cllr Bec Gentle
and, once again,
Father Christmas and his Helper Elves
arrived with sacks of parcels
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
As usual, the Fayre was very popular with a large number of folk attending, all eager to buy their Christmas gifts and hoping to win a prize on the tombola stalls.
It's tiring work doing Christmas shopping so a sit-down with a cup of tea and a filled roll or cake in the Fayre café was very welcome.
Thank you to the ladies who prepared and sold the food.
Thank you also to the Church Action Team and friends who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church (and repairing the floor when the wheel of a trolley jammed), preparing Santa's Grotto, printing and selling programmes and tickets and doing the myriad of jobs that go towards producing a successful event - including making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 30th November, was opened by Cllr Bec Gentle
and, once again,
Father Christmas and his Helper Elves
arrived with sacks of parcels
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
As usual, the Fayre was very popular with a large number of folk attending, all eager to buy their Christmas gifts and hoping to win a prize on the tombola stalls.
It's tiring work doing Christmas shopping so a sit-down with a cup of tea and a filled roll or cake in the Fayre café was very welcome.
Thank you to the ladies who prepared and sold the food.
Thank you also to the Church Action Team and friends who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church (and repairing the floor when the wheel of a trolley jammed), preparing Santa's Grotto, printing and selling programmes and tickets and doing the myriad of jobs that go towards producing a successful event - including making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
2018
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 24th November, was opened by Rev Matt Brookes
there was also an appearance by
Father Christmas and his Helper Elves
who, once again, arrived with sacks of parcels
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
The Fayre was, as usual, very popular and attracted a large number of folk, all eager to buy their Christmas gifts
and hoping to win a prize.
The Fayre café did an excellent trade in filled rolls and cakes for afternoon tea.
Thank you to the ladies and gentlemen who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also go to the Church Action Team and all who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church, preparing Santa's Grotto, selling programmes and tickets and doing the hundred and one jobs that go towards producing a successful event - making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
Saturday, 24th November, was opened by Rev Matt Brookes
there was also an appearance by
Father Christmas and his Helper Elves
who, once again, arrived with sacks of parcels
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
The Fayre was, as usual, very popular and attracted a large number of folk, all eager to buy their Christmas gifts
and hoping to win a prize.
The Fayre café did an excellent trade in filled rolls and cakes for afternoon tea.
Thank you to the ladies and gentlemen who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also go to the Church Action Team and all who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church, preparing Santa's Grotto, selling programmes and tickets and doing the hundred and one jobs that go towards producing a successful event - making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
2017
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 25th November, was opened by
Cllr Sue Ridney & Mr Len Ridney
also, making a welcome return,
Father Christmas and two Helper Elves
arrived to meet the children
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
The market stalls soon sold much of their stock and the tombola stalls were quickly emptied. A massive thank-you goes to the stallholders and helpers and all who came along to buy Christmas gifts and enter into the draw to win one of two Christmas hampers, a meat voucher and bottle of whisky as well as the many tombola prizes and the Lucky Programme prize.
The Fayre café was kept busy with folk purchasing filled rolls and cakes for afternoon tea.
Thank you to the ladies and gentlemen who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also go to the Church Action Team and all who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church, preparing Santa's Grotto, selling programmes and tickets and doing the hundred and one jobs that go towards producing a successful event - making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
Saturday, 25th November, was opened by
Cllr Sue Ridney & Mr Len Ridney
also, making a welcome return,
Father Christmas and two Helper Elves
arrived to meet the children
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
The market stalls soon sold much of their stock and the tombola stalls were quickly emptied. A massive thank-you goes to the stallholders and helpers and all who came along to buy Christmas gifts and enter into the draw to win one of two Christmas hampers, a meat voucher and bottle of whisky as well as the many tombola prizes and the Lucky Programme prize.
The Fayre café was kept busy with folk purchasing filled rolls and cakes for afternoon tea.
Thank you to the ladies and gentlemen who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also go to the Church Action Team and all who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards in and out of the Hall and Church, preparing Santa's Grotto, selling programmes and tickets and doing the hundred and one jobs that go towards producing a successful event - making cups of tea/coffee, washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
Opening the Christmas Fayre
The market stalls
In the Fayre café
In Santa's Grotto
2016
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 26th November, was opened by
Sara Morris (Asda Community).
Father Christmas with his Helper Elf
also arrived to meet a long line of children
waiting to see him in his grotto where they received a gift.
(scroll down for photos)
Saturday, 26th November, was opened by
Sara Morris (Asda Community).
Father Christmas with his Helper Elf
also arrived to meet a long line of children
waiting to see him in his grotto where they received a gift.
(scroll down for photos)
The market stalls, which began the day laden with goodies, were soon low on stock with the tombola stalls being empty in less than an hour of opening. A very big thank-you goes to the stallholders and helpers and everyone who came along to buy Christmas gifts and enter into the draw for the opportunity to win one of two Christmas Hampers as well as the many bottle/chocolate tombola prizes and, of course, the Lucky Programme prize.
The Fayre café was kept busy with filled rolls and cakes being purchased for afternoon tea.
Thank you to the ladies and gentlemen who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also to the Church Action Team and all who helped 'behind the scenes', erecting and dismantling the stalls, carrying boxes and toy cupboards out of the Hall and into Church (before the Fayre) then back again (after the Fayre), selling programmes and tickets and doing the hundred and one jobs that go towards producing a successful event - washing-up, sweeping floors etc.
To all who helped in any way THANK YOU !
2015
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 28th November, was opened by Guests of Honour,
the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Hanif
and
the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Zabeda Khanam
also, making a welcome return,
Father Christmas and his Helper Elf
arrived to meet the children
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
Saturday, 28th November, was opened by Guests of Honour,
the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Hanif
and
the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Zabeda Khanam
also, making a welcome return,
Father Christmas and his Helper Elf
arrived to meet the children
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
Thank you to all the stallholders and everyone who came along to buy Christmas gifts and have a chance of winning one of two Christmas Hampers and lots of tombola prizes.
The Fayre Café had lots of delicious filled rolls and cakes so no-one could go hungry during the afternoon.
Thank you to the ladies who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also to the behind-the-scenes Team who moved things from the Hall into Church and built the stalls then, at the close of the Fayre, dismantled the stalls, stored them away (till next year!) and moved everything back out of Church into the Hall.
To everyone who played a part in the Christmas Fayre – THANK YOU, you are all STARS!
The Fayre Café had lots of delicious filled rolls and cakes so no-one could go hungry during the afternoon.
Thank you to the ladies who prepared and sold the food.
Thanks also to the behind-the-scenes Team who moved things from the Hall into Church and built the stalls then, at the close of the Fayre, dismantled the stalls, stored them away (till next year!) and moved everything back out of Church into the Hall.
To everyone who played a part in the Christmas Fayre – THANK YOU, you are all STARS!
2014
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 29th November, was opened by Guests of Honour,
Cllr & Mrs Clem Bough
and, once again,
Father Christmas and his Helper Elf
arrived to meet the children
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
Market stalls were set up with lots of different goodies to tempt the customers. Linens, toiletries, games, books, cakes, plants & flowers, bottle stall and more. Lots of folk were able to complete their Christmas shopping then purchase wrapping paper and greetings cards to complete the job. Delicious cakes, freshly made rolls and baps, bread pudding, tea, coffee and juice were available (at very reasonable prices) from the ladies operating the
Stage Café. No-one leaves Darkhouse Christmas Fayre feeling hungry!
Stage Café. No-one leaves Darkhouse Christmas Fayre feeling hungry!
A very big THANK - YOU goes to the Church Action Team who organised the Fayre, the wonderful ladies, gentlemen and young people who moved all the Toddlers' toys from the stage into church so they could set up the stalls then, at the end of the day, dismantled the stalls and transported all the toys back onto the stage, the stall-holders who spent time collecting stock, decorating the stalls then selling their wares, the young men who stayed overnight to make sure everything was safe, the ladies and gentlemen who made the teas and coffees, buttered and filled the rolls and cut the cakes which they had spent the previous few days baking (after shopping for the ingredients), those who sold tickets and programmes, made announcements, washed the crockery, swept the floor and did the hundred and one jobs that make an event like this possible. THANK YOU ALL!
2013
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre, Saturday, 30th November, was opened by
Guests of Honour, Mr & Mrs Brian Guest
and included a visit by
Father Christmas and his Helper Elf
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
Darkhouse Christmas Fayre, Saturday, 30th November, was opened by
Guests of Honour, Mr & Mrs Brian Guest
and included a visit by
Father Christmas and his Helper Elf
each child who visited Santa in his grotto received a gift
(scroll down for photos)
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The Ladies operating the café served freshly made rolls and baps, delicious cakes and, most tempting, bread pudding along with tea, coffee and juice
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Market stalls were set up with linens, toiletries, books, games, greetings cards, wrapping paper, sweets, chocolates, cakes and toys, along with the ever popular Tuck Shop, Pick-a-Straw, Bottle Stall and more. Lots of people were able to purchase goodies to complete their Christmas gift list
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Lucky programmes were sold at 20p each. The winning number was 147 with a box of M & S biscuits as prize
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Christmas wreaths, beautiful winter-flowering plants and succulent fresh fruit were also on sale
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A superb Christmas Hamper was won by a lucky lady whose winning ticket was 'pulled out of the bag'
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The wonderfully-delicious-looking Christmas cake was won by a lady who successfully guessed its' weight of 2.86kg
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Stall holders stand by for the opening of the Fayre
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Plants and fresh fruit
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Gilrs' Brigade Tuck Shop
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Mr & Mrs Brian Guest are introduced
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Christmas Fayre officially opened by Brian Guest
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Gifts presented to Mr & Mrs Brian Guest
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visiting Santa's Grotto
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Christmas Fayre 2013 very busy
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visiting Santa is a Family Affair
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A massive THANK - YOU goes to the Church Action Team who planned the event, the wonderful ladies, gentlemen and young people who moved all the Toddlers' toys from the stage into church so they could set up the stalls then, at the end of the day, dismantled the stalls and transported all the toys back onto the stage, the stall-holders who collected in stock, decorated the stalls then sold their wares, the young men who stayed overnight to make sure everything was safe, the ladies (and gentlemen) who made the teas and coffees, buttered and filled the rolls and cut the cakes which they had spent the previous few days baking (after shopping for the ingredients), those who sold tickets and programmes, made announcements, washed the crockery, swept the floor and did the hundred and one jobs that make an event like this possible. THANK YOU ALL!
