Ashtead Village Day 2008

We had the most fantastic Village Day this year. Probably 8½ thousand people attended during the course of the afternoon. We had excellent weather, dry and sunny but not too hot with an extremely wide choice of activities enjoyed by all ages from the very young to our most senior of Senior Citizens. Just about everyone was complimentary.

 

But what is the point? Why have Village Day? What is the benefit other than just a fun day out?

 

The original purpose of Village Day when Rotary organised the first one back in 1982 was to bring together all the clubs, charities and other organisations based in Ashtead. They would use the opportunity to introduce themselves to all Ashtead residents - perhaps  to gain new members, perhaps to raise much needed funds or perhaps just to raise awareness of their existence. And we wanted to promote and retain something of the ‘Village Culture’ or ‘Village Ambience’ in Ashtead.

Since then the number of Village Day participants has risen enormously. This year we had 81 local stall-holders on site (of which 55 were voluntary or charitable status) and all of them appear to have had a most successful afternoon. Our objectives have been amply fulfilled. Over the years we calculate that approximately £650,000 has been raised for charities at Village Day. This year alone it is estimated that charities have raised another £50,000 and Ashtead Rotary Club itself has, separately, raised close to £20,000 for the charities it supports.

 

Village Day participants this year included: The Scouts and Guides (5th Ashtead Brownies won the Best Dressed Stall Competition), The Youth club, The Churches of Ashtead, Ashtead Good Neighbours, The ARA, The Inner Wheel Club and other Rotary and Lions Clubs, Various sports clubs (football, cricket, squash, tennis, angling), Mole Valley District Council, The Police, The Horticultural Society, Ashtead Common (City of London) Conservators, many charities (such as ALDAG, AFASIC, Rianna’s Fund, Lawrence’s Well Appeal, Tools for Self Reliance) and many, many more.

 

We had a record entry for the street Parade with over 70 vehicles in the procession. There were classic cars and commercial vehicles, a Fire Engine, sports cars (many Caterham 7s and an Ariel Atom), American cars (including a replica of General Lee from the 1970s TV show ‘Dukes of Hazard’ – sadly without Daisy Duke) and for grandparents’ memories an original three-wheeled tractor unit, a Scammel Mechanical Horse, used for many years by British Railways after WWII. This last towed a flat bed trailer and served as the carriage for the Atlantis singing/guitar group which played for the audience in Woodfield Lane – 3 and 4 deep in places. All these vehicles then formed a large static display on the field. 

 

Our big attractions this year was an appearance by Bobby Davro, comedian, stage and panto performer and now ‘wide-boy’ star in the BBCs ever popular soap show EastEnders. He endeared himself to all giving freely and generously of his time, doing the official opening, signing autographs and visiting most of the stalls around the ground. We are extremely grateful to him for his support.

 

The helicopter rides proved very popular indeed and but for the need to respect our neighbours (and the restrictions on the pilot’s flying hours) there were enough customers to keep going for several hours longer. We apologise to those who wanted a ride but couldn’t get a ticket. Those who did were highly delighted and got a view of their home village not attainable any other way.

Of course Village Day does not just happen. The Rotary Club of Ashtead and particularly Tim Ashton and his management team are due an enormous vote of thanks. It takes a massive amount of work and an unstinting devotion of time and effort. Indeed the organisation of the next Village Day on 20^th June 2009 has started already. Put it in your diaries now !

 

So where does the money go ? The participating charities depend on Village day for a major part of their finances. All the money raised by Rotary on Village Day goes to the charities we support. These are divided into three main groups: Charities and services which are local to Ashtead and its environs and which we judge require help; UK national charities and needs; International Charities. The list is very long and is constantly changing but our guiding principle is always to help people to help themselves. We believe that is always the way to get better value for money and to avoid the ‘poverty trap’. Whenever possible, if we are unable to oversee the spending of money ourselves, we channel funds through Rotary Clubs which we know are trustworthy and are local to the area where the need is apparent.

 

 The Rotary Club of Ashtead meets weekly at the Tyrrell’s Wood Golf Club for a meal and friendship and often an entertaining or informative talk or presentation by a visitor. Rotary is apolitical and non-sectarian and membership is open to men and women. While we observe the traditional courtesies we do not have secret rituals or codes. To find out more please ask any Rotarian or phone Tim on 813815 or Keith on 727573. http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs

 

Len Wood, Rotary Club of Ashtead