On Thursday, July 17, there was a buzz in the playground for fifteen minutes before the children were let out to start the fair. The Playden School Association’s team of volunteers were putting their final touches to the stalls. The sun shone and everyone was eagerly waiting for the event to start.
When the school day finished it was lovely to see the children so excited as they played old-fashioned games of hook the duck, bean bag toss and soaking people in the stocks.
Two more activities kindly sponsored by local businesses were also very popular! The Rye Retreat’s nerf shooting range and the George’s giant ten pin bowling both raised big smiles and vital funds for the school.
There was an amazing array of raffle prizes kindly donated by local businesses who had been really generous this year. A big thank you to Eddie Franks, Rye Chocolates, Rye Bookshop, Reggie’s Place, Simply Rye, Rye Heritage Centre, Imagine Soft Play, Rye Garden Centre, Drusillas, Kino Rye, Nineteen Beauty, Cornish Bakery, Miss Mollett’s Tea Room, Wild Flame Pizza, Cobbles Tea room, the Apothecary, Diamond Koz, Rye Water Sports, the Waterworks, Rye Butchers, the Globe Inn, Charles Palmer Wine, Tillingham Wine, Chapel Down, Mermaid Inn and Flackley Ash for vouchers and donations.
The school was indebted to sponsors, The King’s Head, DT Transportation, Hayden’s Events Catering and Iden Ornaments for helping cover some of the costs of the event, and to Rye Butchers for the discount on the meat for the BBQ and Rye Rugby Club for the use of their BBQ and coals.
This year’s fair raised £1700 which will go towards next year’s enrichment activities offering opportunities for additional learning and fun to the children such as school trips, activity days and extra equipment.
The biggest thanks goes to the parents and carers for the tombola prizes and cake donations and to the volunteers and school staff who made this event possible.
Mrs Fay Churchill, headteacher at St Michael’s summed up the event: “Sunshine, fun and games, a cracking barbeque and the whole school community together – the summer fair was a roaring success this year. The Playden School Association outdid themselves, both in terms of the event itself and the money raised – an amazing £1600 plus. Not only was this a lovely way to end the school year as a community, but the funds raised will also offer extracurricular opportunities for all our pupils. Last year they supported a wide range of activities including trips to Greenwich Observatory, accessing local museums and historical sites, and visiting theatre groups bringing history to life. Without the Playden School Association our school would be a poorer place both in the community sense and financially.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce .