Urgent plea to save Blandford Georgian Fayre

THIS year's Blandford Georgian Fayre will be the last unless volunteers come forward to organise the event in the future.

Over the last 20 years, the open air celebration has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities and good causes, and generated an estimated £1million in additional trade for the town.

Fayre founder Janice Driscoll is standing down as committee chairman after 20 years at the helm and has warned that the biennial event will be lost forever unless she can find a successor and other willing volunteers.

"If we don't find new members the fayre will close," Mrs Driscoll said.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

"I'm getting older and it is just becoming too much for me. It is very sad for me to have to give it up as it has given me a lot of pleasure but I can't do it forever and nobody on the committee wants to take on the responsibility of leadership."

The one-day street fayre takes place during the early May bank holiday and includes market stalls and family entertainment. Mrs Driscoll launched it in 1992 as a one off but continued it as an annual event, and more recently as a biennial event, because it was so well received.

This year's fayre was attended by more than 20,000 people and raised £15,000 for good causes. Beneficiaries of the fayre include Blandford Opportunity Group, Julia's House and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Donations are also made to local organisations who help with marshalling.

"Funding from the fayre has made the difference between being able to survive and not being able to survive for some groups," Mrs Driscoll added.

The Blandford Georgian Fayre Committee is holding an emergency meeting in the Sealy Suite of the Crown Hotel at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st November. Any person or organisation interested in helping with the organisation of the fayre for 2014 is urged to attend.

Mrs Driscoll concluded: "The situation is desperate and this is our last appeal. If nobody expresses an interest the fayre will finish."

Mathew Manning

mmanning@bvmedia.co.uk