Whaddon’s annual summer fete was held at the weekend – with this year’s proceeds are going towards the £50,000 needed to help fund a new church roof after lead thieves struck last month.
Whaddon's annual summer fete was held at the weekend - with this year's proceeds going towards the £50,000 needed to help fund a new church roof after lead thieves struck last month.
St Mary's Church in the village had all of its lead stolen by thieves on two occasions between June 16 and 23, clearing the roof completely.
Churchwarden David Grech, who has lived in Whaddon for 15 years, told the Crow: "The church has been at the heart of the community for 700 years, and we want to keep it for another 700.
"We have a temporary roof installed but that will only last for one or two years while we work on the solution. We can't keep patching it up forever.
"In spite of threatening clouds, the rain held off and the 2019 Whaddon Church Fete was a great success on Saturday, drawing the community together to enjoy a traditional afternoon of teas, stalls and entertainment.
"In addition to participants from Whaddon, the fete also drew in families from Bassingbourn and other nearby villages and, even a fly past of 12 spitfires from the air display at Duxford!
"The organisers were delighted that the fete raised £2,600 towards church funds which, in addition to contributing to the general running of the church, will also contribute towards the re-roofing project following the theft of lead from the roof.
"During the course of the afternoon visitors to the fete also had the opportunity to donate direct to the crowdfunding website set up specifically for fundraising for the re-roofing project, and by the end of the fete the crowdfunding total had exceeded £1,000."
The fete was opened by the Rev Amanda O'Neill, associate minister to the combined benefice of Bassingbourn and Whaddon.
The organisers were grateful to the number of local businesses who contributed raffle prizes, and to all those who helped in setting up, manning stalls, serving lunches and teas, judging the dog show and produce entries and clearing up at the end of the afternoon.
For more information on St Mary's church, go to www.whaddon.org/st-marys-church.
The crowdfunding page can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/a-new-roof-for-st-marys-whaddon-after-lead-theft.
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