Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Fair shows hospital still
The public affection and support for the Kent and Canterbury was evident on Saturday when hundreds turned out for its summer fair.
Organised by the hospital’s League of Friends, the event is the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser and takings look like matching last year’s record of £11,500.
Volunteers feared numbers might be down because the event clashed with the Herne Bay Air Show.
But they need not have worried as there was a stream of visitors throughout the afternoon.
Many hospital departments manned stalls and entered into the fundraising spirit, while the Canterbury Brass Band provided a musical backdrop.
Two new additions this year were a children’s art contest and a dog show, which both proved popular.
The Rotary Club organised the barbecue and Canterbury Inner Wheel provided customers with refreshments.
One lucky woman from Aylesham scooped the £1,000 top raffle prize and there were also prizes for winners in the children’s art contest, provided by the Art Society of Canterbury.
League of Friends chairman, Viv Pritchard, says the good turnout shows local people still have confidence in and supported the city’s hospital.
He said: “A lot of work by a lot of volunteers goes into making the fair happen so it was encouraging to see a steady stream of visitors throughout the afternoon who were clearly enjoying themselves.
“The signs are that we will be close to last year’s record-breaking total, which will be fantastic.”