Stokes Bay WI enjoy successful Michaelmas Fayre
By Pam Marsden
MEMBERS from the Stokes Bay WI (Women’s Institute) were delighted to offer local residents the opportunity to ‘fill up larders in time for the winter months’ as they held their annual Michaelmas Fayre in Alverstoke Village; which proved a hit with visitors and families in attendance under sunny skies.
Fleeces and extra layers were needed for the early shift with a team moving delicious products to the stall; which included pickled onions, chutneys, marmalades and jams. A cheeky bacon sandwich was also on offer for the team when they were ready and they started sales before the Fayre was officially opened at 11am.
This allowed regular customers to fill their large shopping bags to buy sufficient quantities of favourite choices to see them through the winter months. Overall the stall raised a total of £766.50 throughout a very successful day of trading with a member saying that “shoppers were like bees around the marmalade pot” at one point.
The event was the 34th edition of the Michaelmas Fayre and although chilly, it was sunny throughout with clouds only developing towards the end. This fell nicely between two days of poor conditions on both Friday and Sunday, which saw heavy rain showers and gusty winds to cap off a mixed last weekend of September (weather wise).
President of Stokes Bay WI, Angela MacCullum, commented: “it is a real team effort with those who provided everything from jam jars to produce, the talented cooks who made the preserves and not forgetting the bakers among our members who offered delicious pies, scones, crumbles and other goodies. Plants too had been grown especially for the event and the smell of our lavender bags I am sure drew people to our stall!”
All monies raised will be going to the group’s chosen charity of National Coastwatch (NCI) Gosport; who are stationed nearby the harbour to help keep a watchful eye on those on the sea and land. We hope to help them buy an additional CCTV camera so they can see even further around the tricky waters they monitor.
PICTURED BY PAM MARSDEN: A selection of products that are available to purchase throughout the day on Saturday.
