AN annual shopping fair that raises tens of thousands of pounds for Salisbury District Hospital’s official charity has welcomed its first customers today.
The Rockbourne Fair, located at Salisbury Racecourse, features more than 100 handpicked stalls with luxury homeware, cosmetics, jewellery, gourmet food, fashion and gifts on offer.
The fair – which has been running for more than 30 years – opened its doors at 10am today (Wednesday) and runs until Friday, October 18.
There will be a special late-night shopping event on Thursday, when the fair will be open until 7.30pm to suit people who prefer to browse after work.
Around one-third of the stalls are new for this year, and there are plenty of local businesses displaying their goods at the venue.
“The Rockbourne Fair has something for everyone – it’s the perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts, catch up with friends over lunch and most importantly, support the Stars Appeal, which does incredible work for Salisbury Hospital.
“Every purchase really does make a difference to local people at Salisbury hospital.”
The charity’s fundraising work has previously bought the hospital a new CT scanner, paid for the redevelopment of the Radnor Intensive Care Unit and finances the free-to-use Stars Appeal WiFi.
Anna Aertssen, a consultant surgeon in the hospital’s £1 million breast unit, has seen the impact of the Stars Appeal’s fundraising first-hand.
Her team approached the charity around nine years ago, when the hospital did not have a dedicated breast clinic. After a mammoth fundraising campaign, the facility opened its doors in December 2016 with state-of-the-art equipment, including a new mammogram machine.
“It’s been in use for eight years, and on average around five thousand patients come through it every year.
“Even eight years later, they still say how wonderful it is. It has allowed us to relieve the increasing pressures on the service.
“Patients and staff are absolutely delighted with it, and it’s made a huge difference. Because it’s such a nice unit, patients and staff respect it; it’s still in very good nick.
“The organisers of the Rockbourne Fair are great supporters of the Stars Appeal. It’s fantastic to see their enthusiasm and energy. It’s brilliant.”
He and his fundraising partner Lynne Rose have raised more than £38,000 for the charity by taking part in treks in Jordan and Colombia. He’s now got his sights set on a trek in the Indian mountains in 2026 with the aim of breaking the £50,000 mark.
Mr Ford said: “Being able to give back to the hospital is just incredible. All my surgeries and ongoing check-ups are still being done there. It’s just incredible to be able to do something for the Stars Appeal and give back to the people who saved my life.
“Rockbourne Fair is a huge fundraiser for the Stars Appeal. All these stallholders come and they’re all supporting the appeal. It’s just amazing. I hope everyone has a great day – come along and buy some Christmas gifts!”
“It’s a lot of hard work getting all the stalls and preparing for the fair, but it’s always worth it in the end,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic atmosphere and all the stallholders seem very happy, so we’re really excited to welcome thousands of people over the next three days.
“There’s something for everyone. The late-night shopping is a great opportunity for people to come after work, and there’s ample free parking.
“All the ticket sales go towards the Stars Appeal, and a percentage of whatever is bought goes to the Stars Appeal. Every purchase counts.”
“We are so grateful to Bev and her team for their continued support of the charity.
“We look forward to meeting shoppers and supporters at the fair and sharing the impact of your generosity.”
Dates and times:
Wednesday, October 16: 10am - 5.30pm
Thursday, October 17: 10am - 7.30pm
Friday, October 18: 9.30am - 3pm
Venue:
Salisbury Racecourse, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PN. Ample free parking available.
Entry Fee:
£6 (Special £3 entry after 6pm on Thursday).
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