A VILLAGE garage sale dubbed 'the only one of its kind' is back for its 15th year.
The small community of Lover de-clutter their homes every year and take part in the village garage sale.
This year Lover will be welcoming the public to browse their village for all kinds of items from homemade jams to old furniture, on Saturday, July 6, from 8.30am until 12pm.
The sale began 15 years ago when the daughter of the event founder, Dave Charles, was off to university, and she wanted to get rid of her unwanted items.
Dave said: “I never thought it would grow and become such a fixture in our village.
"A couple of us got together thinking a couple of sales advertised on a postcard in the local shop might get some interest, but when I canvassed the village - 30 people wanted to do it - and now 15 years later we are likely to pass 50 locations in the village, with only 150 houses here, which will surpass last year’s event.”
Lover Garage Sale (Image: Contributed)
With more than 50 stall holders, Dave contacted the Guinness World Records for recognition as the biggest garage sale.
However as the event is one of a kind, the authority responded with: “We do acknowledge the village garage sale but as no one else had done we cannot confirm your status as number one.”
Dave added: “It is such a relaxed social event - the locals seem to enjoy having a chat with neighbours and wandering around almost as much as trying to sell the 'treasure' they have accumulated in their lofts and garages. I am amazed at the bargains people can pick up on the day - combine this with the bacon rolls from the village hall and it is a great way to spend a couple of hours wandering through the village."
The village, in Redlynch civil parish, prides itself on community spirit. With no pubs or shops, residents have to create their own entertainment and often get behind local events like the yearly garage sale.
Every year Dave and his wife Alison get together with a bottle of wine to set a date.
Dave, who is now retired, reaches out to the other villagers a few months in advance to see if they’re interested in taking part.
He said: “This is the 15th year so each year, amazingly, people have got stuff to sell and have found more treasure in their loft.
“It’s a bit of a drag to take stuff to the dump so people think if I can sell it it’s easier to do so in their driveway. People love chatting to their neighbours, they wander down the village hall and pick up a bacon butty and a cup of tea, you walk back to your stall, you pass some of your neighbours and you walk round the triangle.
“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure because whatever is in your garage and your loft is what people sell and it’s amazing what people buy.”
For more details, visit wherecanwego.com/lover-garage-sale-2024.
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