Ingoldisthorpe plant fair fundraiser

Braving the persistent rain on Saturday morning (27th April) intrepid plant hunters descended on the church hall and field in Ingoldisthorpe.

Maggie Fisher was thrilled to bag her favourite variety of Pulmonaria, ‘soldiers and sailors’, with its distinctive pink and blue flowers on Susan Lake’s stall.

Susan Lake (left) with Maggie Fisher

Isla Manning and family, veteran stallholders at this event, sheltered in their tent. A real generational affair the team, who raise funds for the West Norfolk Lawn Tennis club, included 10-year-old Isla, her parents, and grandparents Alan and Madeline Stewart. Their efforts have contributed to the re-surfacing of the courts at the club – and their fundraising continues as the next project is the clubhouse. Look out for Isla at the Hunstanton Tennis Tournament is August!

Indoors the stalls did a brisk trade in jams, craftwork and baked goods while the Vicar, Mark Capron, and Jane Wood provided refreshments.

Rev Mark Capron with Jane Wood

Mark Capron said: “Over the last three years we’ve made significant improvments to the hall and today is part of our ongoing fundraising.

Time for refreshments

“The hall is run by volunteers and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am-12.30pm we are open for Barista drinks and home-made cakes.”

No stranger to fundraising, Mark, who is also the Vicar at St Nicholas’ Dersingham, will be the first to take the plunge to raise money for accessible toilets and a kitchen in the church as he abseils down the tower on Bank Holiday Monday.

“These facilities will not only benefit our church members but also provide a welcoming environment for the local community. With your generous support, we can make this vision a reality.

“We have a variety of people doing it including the Dersingham headteacher and teacher, local funeral directors, midwives, fireman, game keepers and many other members of our local community; in all over 50 abseils.

“Refreshments and stalls available during the day, abseiling starts 10am (with me!) until 4:30pm. It promises to be a great community day.” Mark added.