Not only is the Shepherds Market the Parish’s biggest annual fund raising event, but it is also one of the highlights of the Parish calendar!

The first one was held over 30 years ago and the event has grown to such an extent that in 2007 we managed to raise over £12,200! All of these funds are normally shared between the Parish’s chosen charities, but this year the proceeds will be divided between Help for Heroes, Hope for Uganda and The Farnborough Project. (Help for Heroes is being supported for this year only, pending the selection of our third Parish charity)

Last year at our Dickensian themed Market we had over 25 stalls selling a wide range of products from delicious home made sweets, cakes and jams to plants, books, gifts, toys, and children’s clothes. There was face painting, a bouncy castle, children’s entertainment, delicious lunches and our seasonal mulled wine! There were also many other exciting activities and competitions including our Grand Raffle, indeed it, was a truly memorable occasion with something for everyone!

All of this was made possible, thanks to the huge support the Market receives from a large number of parishioners, be they; members of the Committee, stallholders, the army of people that help behind the scenes or the hundreds of people that turned up on the day and supported us. It was a real team effort of which our parish should be really proud.

This years’ event will be held on the 8th of November 2008 at the Church of the Good Shepherd and as well as all of our traditional stalls we aim to add a few exciting new attractions!

If there is anyone reading this, therefore, who is not yet involved and would like to be I would love to hear from you, I have a long list of things that we need help with ranging from selling raffle tickets, helping run a stall on the day or simply setting the market up or clearing away afterwards. Please send me an email or give me a ring on the number below.

We are also looking for local businesses to approach for sponsorship, so if anyone has any contacts that they feel maybe prepared to donate a raffle prize, sponsor an event on the day or just make a donation, however small, again please do not hesitate to contact me.

Finally, another date for your diary: as part of our Shepherds Market efforts this year we will also be running a quiz night on Saturday the 13th of September at the Church of the Good Shepherd. More details to follow. Please come along and rack your brains whilst raising funds for those less fortunate than ourselves!

Thanks again for all of your support last year! Let's see if together we can do even better this year.

Rob Tipping
01483  831997
shepherdsmarket@mac.com