THANK-YOU NOTES
Open days and charity events at Wavering Down House and Gardens have so far raised more than £75,000 for good causes.
Highlights at Frankie Howerd’s former home in Cross, near Cheddar, Somerset, UK, have included:
An Up Pompeii party
A concert with The Wurzels
A classic car rally
Opera by singer Tim Pitman
Jazz in the Garden
Tribute bands Abba 2 Bjorn Belief and Kings of Queen
Many charities, primarily in the South West of England, have been helped by money raised at these events.
Click on the list on the left to see a selection of excerpts from the lovely thank-you letters we have received.
Avalon Camps, Mark, Somerset
January, 2007I am writing to thank you for your kindness in sending me a cheque for £122.50 towards the funding of Avalon Camps. I am very grateful to you for considering us as one of the beneficiaries of your excellent and enterprising ‘Open Gardens’ in memory of Frankie Howerd. Yes, we did have another very successful two weeks of our Camps for 64 disadvantaged children. It never ceases to amaze me that, after 20 years, I manage to galvanise the goodwill of so many young people and villagers from Mark and Allerton to assist in running them. In all, almost 200 people give their time and effort in some form or another. Back in January, I was particularly anxious about the future of the camps because we had so little money in the bank account. However, as the former Rector of Mark used to say when he set up the camps: ‘God will provide’ and He certainly did. Many people rallied round and between them raised in the region of £10,000 with fundraising events of one sort and another. For two small villages to do this is little short of a miracle! We were able, among other things, to purchase 14 much-needed new large-capacity tents, repair the canvas roof of our marquee, which blew down in a gale during the first camp, and install a new shower. We need each year to raise at least £6,000 to cover the everyday running of the camps and to have cash in hand for any capital expenditure. Once again, very many thanks for your consideration of our cause and for the cheque.
