Vehicle rally smashes fundraising record
By Dave King
MORE than five thousand people flocked to Stokes Bay on Bank Holiday Monday (August 29) to enjoy a fun day of classic and vintage cars organised by Gosport Rotary Club and the South Hants Vehicle Preservation Society, raising a record £10,500 for good causes in the event’s sixty-eighth year since 1954.
The rally featured scores of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles that were driven from across the country to feature on the popular Gosport coastline; including a mini-hovercraft and classic cars featuring throughout the previous generations. They featured alongside many stalls from local organisations such as Heritage Open Days, who advertised their upcoming week of events later this month.
But it wasn’t just about the vehicles as the day was filled with activities suitable for everybody, regardless of age or ability. These included arena demonstrations, samba band workshops, juggling workshops, a petting zoo, face painting, pottery making, food / drink stalls and much more throughout the day.
Funds raised through the event will now be shared between the Mayor of Gosport’s charities, and the Rotary Club’s benevolent fund. And the Gosport Mayor Cllr Jamie Hutchison did attend the fun day to open the event on Monday morning, which started promptly at 10am and finished at 4pm that same afternoon.
He said: “This was another fantastic community event. The vehicles were amazing, many travelling long distances to take part. This summer, Gosport has truly excelled in the number and quality of events that have taken place and it’s been an honour to attend such wonderful events, including the annual vehicle rally.”
The Rotary Club furthermore invited a number of local charities to raise funds for their causes, with Gosport Rotary Club President Julie Edwards, saying she was thrilled with how successful the day had gone and delighted the vehicle rally had attracted such a large crowd.
She said in a statement after the event: “What a magnificent day. The organisation that was needed to put on an event like this is quite overwhelming. The entertainment was great, the food stalls were super, the vendors were brilliant and as for the main event, the cars, more cars than ever we witnessed a stunning array of beautiful vehicles. The President also described the amount raised as “phenomenal”, concluding: “It is the most money raised by the Rotary club in one day”.
Readers can find out more information about Gosport Rotary Club via the link here, whilst photographs can be seen below from the day. Details outlining the next organised event, the Alverstoke Michaelmas Fayre, can be explored here alongside future community occasions during the rest of the remaining 2022 calendar.
PICTURED BY VARIOUS PEOPLE AT THE EVENT (BELOW): JCU Photography (samba band), Mike Atthis (aerial), Gosport Mayor’s Office (Mayor’s pix), Amanda Morby (general) – All reproduced with permission.
