Records were broken at this year’s Christmas Fayre and coffee morning run by volunteers and supporters of Bembridge Community Library (BCL).
Revenue from the event last Saturday and the annual Christmas Draw smashed through the £1,000 barrier for the first time ever with a final total of more than £1,100. The draw alone raised £813, jumping ahead of the previous record of £808 set in 2017.
Takings from stall rentals and sales of teas, coffee and cakes were also up at £319 making a provisional grand record-breaking total of £1,131.95.
Chris Thornton, library treasurer said:
“This was a really great result thanks to the time and efforts of all involved.
“Charities are increasingly competing for our money and so this year donations are being spread ever thinner.
“Nevertheless, the Library has been able to buck the trend and has seen an increase in donations.”
Visitors were able to get into the Christmas spirit by joining in the festivities, and enjoying hot drinks and homemade cakes. Entertainment was again provided by ever-popular Bembridge Recorder Consort as visitors were able to find last minute bargains at the bric a brac and needlework stalls.
Library users also took the opportunity to choose gifts and holiday reading from an extensive selection of nearly new books and jigsaws sold at bargain basement prices.
Draw promoter Richard Beet said that the library was indebted to many local businesses and individual supporters:
“We were able to offer an impressive array of high-value prizes, many of which were kindly donated by local supermarkets, shops, restaurants and estate agents”.
Main prizes included a luxury Christmas Hamper kindly donated by Steve Warburton, owner of the Welcome Store at Lane End and £100 worth of shopping vouchers from the Bembridge Business Association. Most of the prizes were gifts from local businesses and library supporters including the newly formed Bembridge Men in Sheds group which donated a hand-crafted island-shaped wall clock made from the old sails of Bembridge Windmill. The clocks, which normally retail at £40, help to raise funds for replacement Windmill sails.
The library, which was saved from closure 6 years ago by a small group of Bembridge people, has continued to thrive thanks to the dedication and commitment of its entirely volunteer workforce and the support of Community Action Isle of Wight. It has since grown into a self-supporting successful community hub, incorporating a versatile facility for meetings, and offering a free public internet resource, and providing the village’s only Tourist Information Point as well as sharing a building with Bembridge Heritage Museum with which it works closely.
Bembridge Community Library is open 4 days a week, all day on Monday and Friday as well as on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
