Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 10

life

OUT AND ABOUT

29th & 30th November 2007

Isle of
Wight
Gift Fair
Location:
Bembridge Sailing Club

Ryde School prize winners

Thursday 29th November
5 - 8.30pm and Friday 30th
November 10am - 4pm

If you are a discerning
Christmas shopper, make sure
you put one of these dates
in your diary to guarantee
that you snap up some of the
unique and luxurious gifts
available at this Christmas
Gift Fair. From cashmere to
condiments, canvas to quiche
plus delicious Christmas cakes
to make your table centre
piece, it really is worth a visit.
Each year the committee
carefully select their stall
holders through their
membership of the Charity
Fairs Association to ensure
that new stalls keep the
fair fresh each year.
Started by a small group of
friends who held gift-buying
events in their own homes
to offer quality products not
available elsewhere on the
island, this fantastic fundraising event is now held in the
lovely venue that is Bembridge
Sailing Club. Since its birth,
the Gift Fair has raised nearly
£70,000 for Island Charities.
This year 50% of the money
will go to the Earl Mountbatten
Hospice and the remainder is

to be divided between our Air
Ambulance and Young Carers
(Isle of Wight), genuinely
worthy causes that desperately
need additional funds. It is
hoped that over £1,000 will be
raised for the Young Carers
alone so that these dedicated
youngsters can enjoy their
own Christmas outing.
This year’s Island Gift Fair
is to be held in memory of
Jackie Cuddigan. Jackie,
who was a stalwart and
much-loved member of the
Gift Fair Committee, very sadly
died earlier this year. The
committee all miss her counsel
and gaiety. At her suggestion
they bought an EGG monitor
for the chemo unit. It is to
be hoped that all fundraising
records will be broken.
Tickets are £6.50 for
Thursday 29th evening to
include wine and canapés and
just £2.50 on Friday 30th.

Ryde School
speech day 2007
On Saturday 17th September,
Ryde School celebrated a
wonderful year in style. The
Headmaster welcomed Guest
of Honour Ben Saunders,
who at the age of 26 was the
youngest person to reach
the North Pole on foot, and
reported on a year of excellent
academic achievement,
topped by the achievement
of 50% of A grades at A
level, including six each from
Lizzie Lawn and Bonnie Ng.
Pupils gave lively and
witty accounts of boarding,
the ecology group, Young
Enterprise Company; Global
Rock; Combined Cadet Force;
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Scheme; the French Exchange:
history trip, music tour, and
drama productions. There were
reports of many successes
in boys’ and girls’ sport,
and a brilliant performance
of ‘I get a kick out of you’
sung by Collette Stirzaker.
Ben Saunders distributed
the prizes and delighted an
audience of 1000 with a highly
amusing and inspirational
account of his adventures. Ted
Moore, Head Boy, gave the vote
of thanks to round off the event.

Headmaster - Dr England

Ben Saunders (Guest speaker)

Photo right: Paul Verhaak
& Lizzie Lawn, last year's
Head Boy and Head Girl.

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