On Saturday 16 November the College Sports Hall was transformed into a winter wonderland for a day of shopping, sleigh bells and singing as we celebrated all things festive at our annual Christmas Fair.
The fair takes places every year in November and has now become an established event in the community calendar. From 10.00am, visitors arrived to the College and were able to peruse the products of small and local business owners and charity representatives. There was a huge array of gift ideas including locally-produced sparkling wine, handmade jewellery, candles, sweet treats and skincare.
While their parents shopped, children were able to busy themselves at the pottery painting stall, run by Henley’s Kiln Ceramic Café, and have a go at the hoopla run by members of the Parents' Association. We were also lucky enough to welcome back our guest of honour, Father Christmas, who looked right at home in his grotto for the day, decorated by a team of PA volunteers. The Business BTEC students ran a stall selling merchandise and other gifts as well as the Grotto which combined brought in over £700 for their Enterprise company. C Crisp and F Diver also ran a stall selling donated old HMV stock, raising a fantastic £389.78, which will be donated to the Reading Drop-In Centre (CIRDIC).
Our onsite caterers Thomas Franks provided refreshments in the café, including mince pies, mulled wine and turkey and cranberry rolls. Visitors were able to sit down and ‘refuel’ while being entertained by the Shiplake Community Choir, who performed two sets of traditional Christmas Carols.
One of the highlights of the day, was a surprise visit from Anoushka and Roger as part of their live broadcast for BBC Radio Berkshire’s ‘Peach Quest’. Our Christmas Fair was the location of final clue number 5 and a huge cheer erupted as it was announced live on air that they had ‘found the peach’.
Alumni and Events Officer, Mrs Catherine Brazil, who assisted the Parents’ Association in organising the event, said ‘A lot of people think it’s too early to be thinking about Christmas in November but planning for the event started way back at Easter! With local businesses and charities all getting involved, it feels like a true community event. Thank you to everyone who came along, this has got to be one of my favourite events to be a part of.”
