Primary school raises £2,500 at Christmas celebration

MORE than 650 people attended the Sonning Common Primary School Christmas fair.

For the first time, organisers opened up the forest school in the grounds for the event.

The area was decorated and had new activities such as roasting marshmallows and a challenge for children to find animals which had been hidden among the trees.

Emily Doubek, whose daughters Ellianna, seven, and Maia, five, are pupils, helped organise the fair. She said: “It went really well, it was really busy.” Speaking about the forest school, she said: “There were 75 people there and there were lots of fun activities. It was quite cold but the kids braved it.”

Attractions included a homemade jewellery stall, run by former pupil Rose Martin, 12, 
and current pupil Elsie Davis, 10.

There was also a Macmillan cancer charity stall, a cake stall, a toy stall, a tombola and a toy stall.

Activities included hook-a-duck, a reindeer hoopla game where children had to try to get their hoops on to some antlers and a ‘Where in the world is Santa?’ game.

Seven hampers had been prepared with donations from local businesses.

Mrs Doubek said: “We had lots of donations. Imma Bakery in Stoke Row donated some big panettone, Asquith’s in Henley donated a teddy bear for the children’s hamper, the River & Rowing Museum donated a voucher for a family group visit, a teddy bear and a mug, the Herb Farm donated a pot of herbs, Waitrose Caversham donated six bottles of Prosecco, Blue Tin produce donated a voucher and the Cheese Shed donated a box of accompaniments for cheese.”

Children from the school’s Glee club and choir sang carols and classic Christmas music including Silent Night.

There was also a musical performance by Rabble Theatre, an after-school drama club.

The fair raised more than £2,500 for the school.