School friends rescue village’s Christmas fair and raise £1,200

MORE than £1,200 was raised at the Nettlebed Christmas fair, which was held at the village school for the first time.

The event, which was organised by the Friends of Nettlebed School, featured stalls selling artisan gifts and homeware.

Money was raised through a raffle and Santa’s grotto as well as sales of festive food and drink.

The proceeds will be used to fund trips and sports coaching for pupils at the school.

The event has traditionally been organised by Jodie Butler, from Catslip, in the village hall but was not going to happen this year until the friends group stepped in.

Group member and
co-organiser Danni Miller said: “They said they weren’t running it so we asked if we could.

“It was a community effort

from everyone around the school and many of the stallholders were parents.

“Everyone did different things. Some did the grotto, others did cakes, coffees and tea.

“It was really successful and we had a steady stream of people all day. So many children visited Santa we almost ran out of gifts.”

Mrs Miller played an elf in the grotto alongside Santa, who was played by three different people throughout the day.

Sarah Soles, who chairs the friends group, ran a Christmas pudding stir-up with Anastasiia Lypynska whose daughter Isabel Lilburn, five, attends the school.

Mrs Soles said: “It’s a community Christmas pudding. You stir the pudding, make a wish and then take home a bowl to cook at home. We had all of the ingredients of Christmas pudding like currents, sultanas, cinnamon, brandy and all that stuff.

“Traditionally, it’s done the Sunday before Advent but we’re doing it a bit early.” Mrs Lypynska, who is from Ukraine, said she loved Christmas pudding. “I think I could eat it raw,” she said. “It’s very aromatic and gives you that Christmas spirit.”

Stalls were run by local traders including Emma Allington, from Peppard, who sold high-end ceramics, tableware, candles, tree decorations, mugs and plant pots.

She said: “It’s nice to meet other local businesses and customers. Running an online business is great but you don’t get to see people so it’s nice to meet customers face-to-face.”

Joanna Dickinson, of Ancastle Green, Henley, who runs online store Jojojamjarvintage, was selling vintage homeware.

She said: “It’s lovely to be here and get to know the other families. Nettlebed’s such a lovely community and we really love our kids coming to this school.” Stalls were also run by the Henley Distillery in Binfield Heath and the Fairmile Vineyard in Henley.

Mulled wine and cake were sold by Amy Barnes and Katie Starmer-Smith from the school canteen.

Mrs Starmer-Smith said: “It’s my first time serving festive food this year and it seems people have an appetite for it. It’s a nice excuse to get into the Christmas spirit early.”

Guests also enjoyed pizza from a converted trailer outside the school run by Tom Stuart, 19, from Turville Heath, who founded Pizza Please.

He has been running the mobile pizzeria for 18 months and was helped on the day by his friend Henry Anderson, 18.

Tom said: “The fair’s a good opportunity for people to support local businesses.”