The Cottesmore Christmas Fayre
Stallholders were impressed with their surroundings when they arrived early on Saturday morning to set up their stands for the Christmas Fayre; the hall looked inviting with the blazing fire and our biggest ever Christmas tree with its welcoming twinkling lights dominating the corner.
The hall, drawing room and library were soon looking festive and vibrant with stalls selling a selection of wonderful goods. There were handmade bags of various sizes for all sorts of purposes; colourful ‘Alphabetville’ illustrated name paintings and watercolours of the local area; beautifully decorated and unusually flavoured cup cakes piled high onto stands; another stall selling the most unusual cupcakes and wreaths, which on closer inspection were made from adorable baby clothes and socks!
We had beautiful Italian knitwear, exquisite silver and gold friendship bracelets, Christmas planters and herbs, chocolates and Kilner jars of sweets and preserves. The food tasting company was constantly surrounded by a throng of willing tasters trying their samples and dips, whilst another stallholder sold natural alternative health products. An impressive display of stoneware bowls and dishes filled the drawing room bay window and there were stalls selling delightful hand-made Christmas stockings and fabric decorations and wonderful stocking-filler gifts. There were also well-known brands at the Fayre, including Phoenix Trading greetings cards and Index books and gifts.
The refreshments stall was as popular as ever dispensing a constant stream of tea and coffee and Austin’s award-winning mince pies, millionaire’s shortbread and carrot cake to the weary shoppers. Tickets for Austin’s school lunch were once again and complete sell-out. (Note for parents next year – we can only accommodate fifty parents and tickets are sold on a strictly first-come-first-served basis!).
As two o’clock came around parents made their final purchases and then made way to the gym to watch the final performance of the play.
A cheque for over £700 will be sent to Children with Cancer UK.