Andy Munns
The organisers of Rockbourne Fair celebrated another successful year by presenting over £51,000 to the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s Charity.
Members of the Rockbourne Fair Committee presented their donation to the President of the Stars Appeal, the Earl of Pembroke, and the charity’s Hospital Ambassadors on Thursday (January 18th).
A total of £51,533 was raised at the boutique shopping event, which took place from October 18th to 20th, 2023, at Salisbury Racecourse.
A whopping £261,514 has been raised at the last five Rockbourne Fairs.
The presentation took place at the Neonatal Unit.
Afterwards, Bev Moulding and Sarah Ewen of the Rockbourne Fair Committee and Lord Pembroke were given a tour of the Stars Appeal parents’ accommodation at the unit during which they met parents and babies.
They were also able to listen to a Stars Appeal musician playing lullabies on the harp and saw some of the advanced equipment that donations to the charity have recently funded.
Bev Moulding, the chair of the Rockbourne Fair Committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the incredible success of Rockbourne Fair 2023. Raising over £51,000 for the Stars Appeal goes beyond our expectations, especially in the current economic climate, and speaks volumes about the dedication of our volunteers, the quality of our stallholders, and the support from every visitor who walked through our doors.
“Every penny raised will make a significant difference in enhancing patient care and supporting our hardworking NHS staff. This is a proud moment for all of us involved in the Fair, and it reinforces our commitment to continue to put on this fun and much-loved pre-Christmas shopping event.”
The fair featured over 100 handpicked artisan stalls offering a wide variety of items for shoppers, from fashion, jewellery, and luxury homeware to gourmet food and toys.
President of the Stars Appeal, Lord Pembroke, said: “On behalf of the Stars Appeal, I want to say a massive thank you to the Rockbourne Fair Committee. The fantastic amount of money raised is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and to the brilliant support and generosity of our local community.
“It will enable the Stars Appeal to do even more to support our hospital and the local people it cares for by funding state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing facilities and providing ongoing projects to support the wellbeing of patients. Thank you so much to everyone involved for making Rockbourne Fair 2023 such a success!”
Last year, donations and fundraising enabled the Stars Appeal to fund projects totalling over £1million, which included Salisbury Hospital’s first 3D ultrasound, a new plastic surgery theatre with state-of-the-art equipment, and the latest baby heart monitors on the Labour Ward.
Save the date – From 16th to 18th October, the Rockbourne Fair will be back at Salisbury Racecourse with another fantastic selection of stalls selling gorgeous gifts, delightful treats and beautiful homeware.
Visit www.rockbournefair.org for more information.
To read more about the projects the Stars Appeal is currently fundraising for, visit www.starsappeal.org/what-were-fundraising-for/
