Preparation for the annual Southburn Christmas Fayre at Driffield are well underway. Debbie Hall finds out more about this fundraising spectacular.
IT HAS become a firm fixture on the Christmas build-up calendar.
But what many people probably do not realise, as they set about their seasonal shopping, is they are helping to raise
thousands of pounds to help East Yorkshire's cancer patients.
Southburn Christmas Fayre first entered the festive scene 21 years ago in a barn near Driffield, and was an instant hit.
Such was its success, the annual event had to move to Driffield Showground in 2002 to accommodate the vast numbers of people who saw it as a chance to Christmas shop and enjoy some of the best locally produced fare.
It now attracts about 13,000 people, so there is lots to do before the showground gates open each November.
Mary Rose Barker, who organises the event with her sister, Carol Rymer, and a willing band of about 100 volunteers, said: "It starts in January when we first contact the stallholders, who belong to the Charity Fairs Association, to encourage them to come to East Yorkshire.
"We ask anyone who would like to apply to come back to us by mid-February and by mid-March, we guarantee to write back to say whether they have been accepted.
"We are quite choosy – we are not a craft fair, we assemble a great mix of quality stalls from around the country, featuring a wonderful range of Christmas gift ideas and food."
Mary Rose, who lives in West Ella, was in the midst of mincemeat making, prior to a major mince pie bake, and was just dosing the mix with brandy.
"We will have about 300 mince pies coming out of the oven in three days' time," said Mary Rose.
"We have a lot of people to feed. We only have two stalls with our own produce, but that will include about 250 Christmas cakes – one lady goes to bed and leaves four in her Aga, every night, for a month – and about 800 mince pies."
Over the past 20 years, Southburn Christmas Fayre has raised a staggering £350,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
"The people who support us are very generous, either by helping or donating food for the café.
"We are also grateful to the stallholders – we have between 45 and 50 – for their commitment and support. We try each year to ensure a third of the stalls are new so there is something different to offer our visitors.
"It is a great opportunity for people to get their Christmas shopping done and the free parking is a bonus. People take their bags back to the car and then come back for more."
The stallholders give a large donation to Macmillan Cancer Support for their table, as well as giving 10 per cent of their takings on the day.
There is no doubt the annual event – this year's is being held on Tuesday, November 11 – is hugely popular, not only in giving people chance to have their pick from a range of beautiful festive gifts, but in raising much-needed funds for cancer services in the area through Macmillan Cancer Support.
"Proceeds from the fayre go to Macmillan's vital work in reaching and improving the lives of so many affected by cancer in Hull and the East Riding," said Mary Rose.
"People's attendance and spending at our fayre helps us play our part in funding Macmillan nurses, doctors and other health and social care professionals, as well as establishing new cancer care and information
services."
When the first fayre was held at Carol Rymer's home, at Southburn Farm, near Driffield, the idea was to raise funds for cancer charities.
The first year saw proceeds going to Dove House Hospice in memory of June Rix, of Hornsea, who died of cancer.
The second raised money for the Macmillan Cancer Support unit at Bridlington Hospital and, from then on, efforts have continued to ensure the money is spent locally.
"We gave up doing a raffle years ago because it was such a performance," said Mary Rose, who has been dealing with brochures and mailouts for the fayre since July.
"We went on to a tombola instead, and about five years ago, one of our ladies said she would do a hamper tombola.
"Now we ask our 100 helpers to donate items and a group make up about 60 or 70 very professional-looking hampers.
"With this stall alone, we make over £2,000."
Donning their green Macmillan jumpers and helping out on the day, the Green Team, as they like to call themselves, will man stalls, help in the car park or in the café.
"It takes a lot of work to organise but it is very rewarding and enjoyable," said Mary Rose.
"You can imagine when we are all there making hundreds of mince pies – we have a kitchen rota and work in each other's houses – we have a real giggle.
"Every time, we're all exhausted at the end of the fayre – but we still all say, 'count me in for next year'."
This year's stalls will range from children's toys and clothing to food and drink, jewellery to homes and interiors, with a good helping of general gift ideas.
Lunches and refreshments will be served in the Southburn Café and the Cerutti Bar will also be open, from 11am to 3pm.
Mary Rose said: "As the fayre is being held on Remembrance Day this year, we have a few extra surprises in store."
The 21st Southburn Christmas Fayre takes place on Tuesday, November 11, from 10am to 4pm, at Driffield Showground. Admission costs £5 (£3 after 2pm). Pushchairs and prams are allowed in the marquees after 1pm, when it is less crowded. Parking is free.
