Gardens Open and Summer Fair
Sunday, 11th July 2010

We would like to thank the gardeners, stall-holders, helpers and all supporters of our Gardens Open & Church Fair event on Sunday 11th July, all of which is very much appreciated. And a special mention to Pat and Roy Fenton who masterminded it all.

I received so many wonderful comments about this new and imaginative event, from stall-holders, those helping to run things, and visitors. For example - from a visitor : “Yesterday was a good, fun day with a really upbeat, enjoyable feel to it”; and from a helper : “An absolute pleasure to help”.

The amount raised by the event was a very welcome £1,629 towards the "St Edmund’s Needs a £Million" Restoration Appeal.

This total is broadly in line with our 2008 Open Gardens event. But with additional significance, in that this year’s event

(a) was held over one day not two
(b) it had just over half the number of gardens open, 8 rather than 14
(c) it also included the untried element of the Church Fair on the field
(d) the ‘credit crunch’ hadn’t fully bitten at the time of the 2008 Open Gardens event.

As a new event, there are of course things to learn, but we now have a wonderful foundation for planning future events and doing something a bit ‘different’. Many thanks again to everybody.

Fr. James Mather ssc
Rector

Gardens Open & Summer Fair
Sunday July 11th, 11am to 5pm

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Following the first Open Gardens event two years ago - which was a great success despite wet weather - this year the Open Gardens event will be combined with the Summer Fair in the Church and on the adjoining Green.

There will be Church history tours and the opportunity to climb the Church tower for spectacular views across the Fens, together with valuations of antiques and collectables by Barry Hawkins, a local auctioneer, and Mike Bullen will be displaying his celebrated photo and postcard collection of Downham Market through the ages.

This will be supported by lots of craft stalls, and light lunches and teas being served all day in the Church Hall.

Not far from the Church will be the eight Gardens to view, together with an extensive Plant Sale.

The event is in aid of the "St. Edmund's Needs a £million" Appeal for the restoration and accessibility re-ordering of this beautiful Grade One Listed Church.