Salisbury Hospice Summer Fair raises tens of thousands
The changeable weather didn't stop the crowds at Wilton House!
This year's Salisbury Summer Fair in support of the city's Hospice, has raised £46,000 for the charity.
The heavy showers and strong winds mixed in with brilliant sunshine on Saturday (5th August) didn't dampen the spirits.
The event in the grounds of Wilton House was officially opened by Salisbury Hospice patron, the Countess of Pembroke.
Activities across the day included hobby horse derbys, live music, vintage car displays, duck races on the River Nadder, stalls, refreshments and a wellbeing section named The Retreat.
The Hospice Village, run by Salisbury Hospice staff and volunteers, also gave visitors a chance to learn more about the vital, end-of-life services the Hospice provides.
Moyra Rowney, Events Fundraiser for Salisbury Hospice said:
"The day was extraordinary and in the truest British spirit, the challenging weather conditions added that little something extra to the event.
"We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the visitors who braved the elements; the kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Pembroke and the team at Wilton House Estate; to our traders and exhibitors for their support; the musicians and main arena acts who kept us entertained; all our sponsors, and particularly our headline sponsor, the Hendy Group; and finally, to our amazing volunteers who worked tirelessly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - always smiling, always positive, always upbeat. Ours is a unique event with a warm, friendly, inclusive atmosphere and that is created by everyone involved."
Salisbury Hospice needs to raise £1.5 million every year towards their services, both in-house and through their outreach respite care.
The charity plans to bring back the Salisbury Summer Fair for 2024, with more details to follow.