Art and Craft Fair on Sunday 11th September 2011
Rochdale Rotary's Annual Craft Fair in the Magnificent Rochdale Town Hall
Heritage Weekend Sunday 11th September 2011
It is going to be another successful year for the Artists, Crafters and the Rotary Club of Rochdale, our Craft fairs are held up as something special due to the quality of products on sale, the setting of the Rochdale Town Hall and being hosted by Rotary International
The banner this year will read.
Only the best Rotary Art and Craft Fair
Why not Join us, Sunday, September 11th 2011?
the Fair will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm
Exhibitors can start setting up from 8am
Book a stall now! do not wait until they have all been booked
- Interested? ring David Acton daytime 01706 642361 evening 01706 631188
or email acton.sheila@btinternet.com
Muses from Last Year's Event 12/09/2010
The Rotary Club of Rochdale organised the Annual Arts and Craft fair held in the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall to coincide with the Civic Trust Heritage Weekend. Thanks to our Mayor Councillor Zulfiqar Ali for allowing the club to have the 4th Craft fair in such magnificent surroundings.
Rotarian Bob Chadwick reflects on the day;
8am in front of Rochdale Town Hall, David Acton mustered the troops and the standard issue Rotary tabards were distributed to the valiant men who had made this early hour on a Sunday morning. The group of pensioners awaiting the coach to Porth Cawl were a little bewildered by the sight of ten day-glow figures!
The first Crafters arrived before the doors were open and they were joined by a cyclist from Warrington, who was wondering where the Tour of Britain Cycle Race organisers were. David broke the news gently that he was 24 hours too late.
For the next two hours, cars and vans disgorged their wares, which were whisked up the stairs to the Grand Hall by the Rotarians. Those that couldn’t quite whisk made good use of the lift.
The floor was soon full but as the final table was being filled, the lady suddenly realised she was surrounded by Crafters and not people purveying wedding paraphernalia. The good Rotarians soon helped her back downstairs and into the Wedding Fair being held there.
David Acton turned his hand to marshalling the wedding cars outside the Town Hall. He craftily arranged them either side of the 1958 convertible Jaguar XK150, a trip in which was second prize in the Rotary Grand Draw. He would no doubt have found room for the light aircraft President John was to pilot for the first prize had it been allowed to land in Rochdale Town Centre!
Despite the lack of the plane, all the tickets were sold before noon. A steady flow of people passed around the stalls where there was plenty of choice painting and prints, cards and books, jewellery and pottery, sweets and cakes and even reiki and massage on a bed in the middle of the hall!
The Inner Wheel had a horticultural stall, while Rochdale Rotary promoted the Friends Together Befriending Service. Heritage Tours of the Town Hall passed through every half hour or so, while in the Entrance Hall downstairs, Jonathan Swift, the alter ego of our newest member, Keith Swift, entertained the Wedding Fair visitors with his Frank Sinatra Swing routine.
The climax of the event was the announcement of the winners of the Grand Draw. David and President John took to the stage for the event. The winning ticket holder came from Wigan, while the second prize was claimed by a stall holder adjacent to the stage. Martin Coupe and Joan Banks scooped a prize each.
Then the great packing up exercise began, fortunately the stall holders had had a good day, so fewer goods had to be taken downstairs than had been transported up. Chairs and tables were stacked, tabards removed and everyone reflected on the success of the day. A day which raised a total of £1,900 for Christies and the Migraine Action Association.