On Saturday 18th July, we were delighted to return to 9 The Rowdens, where Michael Brown once again very generously opened the gates to his beautiful English garden in support of the Alice Cross Centre.
It really couldn’t have been a more perfect afternoon. The sun was shining, the garden looked absolutely spectacular, and every corner was bursting with colour. From magnificent dahlias to flourishing grapevines, there was something new to admire wherever you looked. Mike’s passion, dedication and countless hours of hard work were evident throughout the garden, and we are incredibly grateful that he chose to share it with our community once again.
Our visitors were treated to a wonderful afternoon of live music, beginning with the fantastic Hooligans Rule, who entertained everyone with their lively folk music before heading off to perform another three performances later that day. They created the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed summer gathering.
Later in the afternoon, our very own Peta took to the stage with a selection of jazz favourites and much-loved show tunes, adding another touch of entertainment as guests enjoyed tea, cake and the glorious surroundings.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without our amazing volunteers. Throughout the afternoon they worked tirelessly preparing coffees, serving delicious cream teas, cutting cake, pouring Pimms, and offering Vanda’s now-famous non-alcoholic Pimms, which proved to be a huge hit in the summer sunshine. Their warmth, enthusiasm and hard work ensured everyone felt welcome from the moment they arrived.
More than 40 people joined us during the afternoon, spending time chatting with friends, listening to music, exploring the garden and simply enjoying a wonderful community event.
Our raffle was another great success, thanks to the generosity of local businesses who donated some fantastic prizes. A special thank you goes to Kate, who spent many hours organising the raffle and gathering prizes. Your hard work helped make the day even more special. Thank you to Penny for her incredible sales skills!
Mike also held a plant sale throughout the afternoon and, in an incredibly generous gesture, donated all of the proceeds to the Alice Cross Centre. We are enormously grateful for his continued kindness and support.
By the end of the day, we had raised around £500 for the Alice Cross Centre. Every penny will help us continue providing meals, activities, support groups and services that improve the health and wellbeing of people across our local community.
Events like this are about so much more than fundraising. They bring people together, celebrate local talent, strengthen friendships and remind us what can be achieved when a community comes together for a common cause.
A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making the day such a success – to Mike for opening his beautiful garden once again, to Hooligans Rule and Peta for providing the wonderful entertainment, to our incredible volunteers for their hard work throughout the afternoon, to Kate for organising the raffle, to the local businesses who donated prizes, and to everyone who came along to support us.
It truly was a magical afternoon, and we feel incredibly lucky to have such wonderful people supporting the Alice Cross Centre. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!