Relive the fun of the fair
Take a walk down memory lane with a look at our past fairs. If you missed the fair near you, don’t worry, there is always next year.
Early, Early Christmas Fair 2011
This year’s Early Early Christmas Fair in the grounds of Tedworth House raised just over £38,000 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Organisers are delighted with the figure given the present climate and the extra costs involved this year after Tedworth House itself opened as a forces’ recovery centre.
Record numbers of visitors came through the door at the Tidworth site and plans are already underway for next year’s event.
Organiser Caroline Cary said: ” I would just like to thank everyone who came and supported us again this year, to our volunteers, shoppers, stallholders and our sponsors – it was the most glorious day and although the heat was quite a shock, people continued to shop and have fun. The Fair had a lovely feel to it and we cannot wait to start again to build on our new formula and make it even better next year. I have to thank our three main sponsors General Dynamics, Aspire Defence and Wellington Academy/College who helped make it all possible.”
” How lovely it was to come to the fair, be able to buy so many beautiful presents for Christmas and of course for myself! The stalls were better than ever. It was so easy, light and airy, with a lovely atmosphere – we then sat outside in the sun with a cup of coffee in such a glorious setting. A perfect day out, thank you so much for organising such an outstanding event, one I never miss!” ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity Supporter.
Next year’s Fair date has already been set for 26th September 2012.
“I would just like to say well done and thank-you for organising such a fantastic fair. The feedback from the punters was that in many regards it was better than in Tedworth House, much less of a bun fight and less crowded giving a better shopping experience!” With love Trading Ltd
John Fogerty – Garrison Facilities Director at Aspire Defence Services Ltd, Peter Smart – Chief Executive for Aspire Defence Ltd: Major General Murray Wildman – Chairman Wiltshire ABF Committee, Caroline Cary – Fairs Organiser, Fund Raiser, John Fogerty – Garrison Facilities Director at Aspire Defence Services Ltd, Lt. Col Richard Miller – ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Manager Regions and Area Fundraiser.
Early Early Christmas Fair 2012:
Next years Fair for your diary is 26th September 2012.Wednesday 26th September 2012 with a preview on Tuesday 25th September by invitation only. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please send you details to: west@soldierscharity.org
Applying for a stall? Download an application form for 2012 now here
Click to view Wiltshire LIfe Article
Our Sponsors:
We would like to thank our two Main Sponsors: Aspire Defence Ltd and General Dynamics
Also Blue Apple catering, Wiltshire Life, Wellington Academy and College and Tesco.
Look at all the photos from the 2011 Early, Early Christmas Fair events
Clifton Christmas Fair 2010
University Officers Training Corps Artillery Ground
21 October 2010
Early, Early Christmas Fair 2010
Tedworth House, Tidworth, Wiltshire
28-29 September 2010
Once again the Early, Early Christmas Fair was a huge success raising over £80,000 this week for The Soldiers’ Charity.
Lives can be destroyed by some of the injuries that our servicemen and women suffer, and the demands on The Soldiers’ Charity are growing all the time.
To beat the £40,000 raised last year, it was decided to widen the scope of one of the charity’s main fundraising events, the Early, Early Christmas Fair into an Early, Early Christmas Event
There were four separate events:
The Soldiers’ Charity Ball Saturday 25 September
Garrison Day Monday 27 September
Early, Early Christmas Fair Preview Tuesday 28 September
Early, Early Christmas Fair Wednesday 29 September
310 people attended the Ball on the Saturday night, and the atmosphere was electric.
There was a champagne reception followed by a four course dinner sponsored by Sodexo Defence, then came a wonderful surprise: Phantom of the Opera – Christine, Raoul and the Phantom himself from the cast of the West End show gave an outstanding performance.
The sound was absolutely perfect thanks to Andrew Chance. Nick Bonham, late of the eponymous auctioneers, led the most fantastic auction which took over £29,000 in 20 minutes!
A separate silent auction took over £18,000 and for just £20 there was a chance to win a fabulous holiday, including flights, to the Royal Palm in Mauritius kindly sponsored by Susie Freeman Travel and flights by Air Mauritius. This raffle made over £4,000. It was a night full of glamour, luxury and endless dancing to Chance Band.
The Early, Early Christmas Fair the following week was as busy as ever with shopper numbers just topping 1500. This is sponsored by Aspire Defence. The proceeds from these events will go to an incredibly important cause, particularly today as the demand for help generated by current operations continues to be high.
Organiser Caroline Cary commented:
”I would just like to thank our sponsors Aspire Defence and Sodexo Defence, for their continued support, all the visitors, stallholders, advertisers, helpers and donators who all help make this event so successful every year.”
Look at all the photos from the 2010 Early, Early Christmas Fair events
Summer Charity Fair 2010
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
20 June 2010
The Summer Charity Fair is held in conjunction with Heritage Day. This year’s fair was a great day out for all the family with a mixture of old favourites and new attractions.
- Polo competition
- Cricket match
- Beagles
- Food outlets
- Children’s’ mini fair (sponsored by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity)
- Marching band spectacular.
- Plus all the heritage of the Academy…
Spring Fair 2010
Hovingham Hall, North Yorkshire
19 and 20 May 2010
Food and craft stalls within the stunning, 18th Century Hovingham Hall.
19 May
There was a special preview evening on Wednesday 19 May at Hovingham Hall with over 50 stalls.
With an auction by Tennants Auctions and a Sounding Retreat by The Band and Bugles of The Rifles.
20 May
Hovingham Hall opened it’s historic doors for the full day of the Fair. In addition to the stalls there were free jewellery valuations by Tennants of Leyburn.
Michaelmas Fair 2009
Powderham Castle, Kenton, Devonshire
5 November 2009
Food and craft stalls within the picturesque Powderham Castle.
Look at all the photos from the Michaelmas Fair 2009
The Fair was officially opened by Lady Fiona Wall (centre), wife of the Commander in Chief Land Forces, General Peter Wall.
Early, Early Christmas Fair 2009
Tedworth House, Tidworth, Wiltshire
29-30 September 2009
Record numbers came through the door of the 2009 Early, Early Christmas Fair in support of the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
The fair raised over £40,000 with 450 people attending the pre-view and over 1300 attending on the Wednesday!
Thank you to everyone for making it the biggest fair yet.
Photo on left: Joining Lady Wall (centre) are, left to right, Brig Steve Hodder, CSM WO1 John Coles, Roger Mountjoy from Sodexo Defence, Colin Kenton, GFD for TidNBul, Caroline Cary, Fair Organiser and Col Tony Moorby, Regional Fundraiser for The Soldiers’ Charity
The presentation of the winning raffle prize.
Brig David Shaw, Director Regional Fundraising and Liaison, Richard Watt, Caroline Cary, Fair Organiser and Col Tony Moorby, Regional Fundraiser for The Soldiers’ Charity
Raffle Winners
1st Prize: £500 Cash prize – Richard Watt Picture Editor – HQ Land
2nd Prize: £200 Tesco Vouchers – Mrs Mary Nesbitt of Hungerford
3rd Prize: £100 Cash Prize donated by General Dynamics – Peter Andrews Heytesbury
4th Prize: VIP Tickets to Salisbury Concert – Jane Stampes Salisbury
5th Prize: £50 Tesco Vouchers – Dave Austin of Salisbury
6th Prize: £50 Tesco Vouchers – Michael Wigley of Wilton
7th Prize: Tatler Magazine Subscription – Naterlie Stamp Aspire Defence Ltd
8th Prize: Designer Basket – David Pike
9th Prize: Hamper – Pauline Spooner – Andover
10th Prize: Larousse Gasronomique Books – Martin Muncaster
Sponsors
Thank you to all the sponsors especially Aspire Defence and Sodexo Defence, advertisers, stall holders, visitors and the soldiers who work so hard to support this event
Press
Download our post-event press release for full details of the weekend
Read the Salisbury Journal article on the record breaking fair
Read the article in Wiltshire Life about Aspire Defence and the Early Early Christmas Fair!
Photos
Look at all the photos from the Early, Early Christmas Fair 2009