Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair raises thousands for hospice care
Once again, Tower House at Westgate Gardens, Canterbury was transformed into a venue for the annual Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair on Sunday 21 July. Staff and volunteers dressed in 30’s 40’s and 50’s styles and welcomed visitors, many dressing in traditional styles to suit the occasion.
This charming event is now a regular fixture on Pilgrims Hospices calendar, raising over £4,500 last year and set to match the figure again this year.
Cream tea with traditional homemade cake, along with a variety of stalls, vintage clothing, singers, musicians, dancers, a magician, raffle and tombola helped the much-loved event to become a beautiful and sunny spectacular.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, said: “We are always overjoyed with the response we receive from supporters and friends who attend our events. Each patient we care for has a life-limiting illness and will require specific and specialist care to meet their individual needs, whether being cared for at one of our three hospices or in their own home. Every cream tea, raffle ticket or trinket purchased is helping our amazing care team to continue with important care and research.”
Every cream tea, raffle ticket or trinket purchased is helping our amazing care team to continue with important care and research.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager
Thank you to our sponsors who help so generously. This means that every £1 from donations and purchases on the day will go directly to Pilgrims care.
Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the event.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or visit Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme for more information.
26th July 2018
Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair is a scorcher
Westgate Gardens in Canterbury filled with 100s of locals and visitors from across east Kent on Saturday afternoon for the annual Pilgrims Hospices Vintage Tea and Fair. The temperature soared into the high 20s as cream teas and ice creams were purchased in aid of the charity that supports end of life care in local towns and villages. The event is set to match the £5,500 figure raised last year.
While some enjoyed jazz music from The Ruby Sisterz and close up magic from Stuart Weller on the patio with tea and cake, others took part in the traditional games and purchased treasures from stalls that were set out across the gardens.
Stuart said: “I support Pilgrims Hospices charity because of the free care they offer people who suffer illnesses that limit their life, along with the support they give to their families as well. It’s such a great charity.”
Pilgrims Hospices retail team provided a wonderful array of pre-loved clothing, hats, and accessories for visitors to purchase. Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Retail Manager, said: “We brought along a variety of stock from our many shops, including lots of lovely vintage items in keeping with the day. The sales on the day generated around £750, all helping to pay for the vital care of hospice patients and their families.”
This year the event saw many new attractions alongside the regular array of traditional jams and chutneys and homemade cakes, luxury craft stalls and fabulous raffle prizes.
Leila Ilkhan, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager for Canterbury, said: “The temperatures have been record-breaking and we really thank our amazing volunteers for all the support they gave on the day with setting up the stalls, tables and chairs, servicing refreshments, running stalls and so much more.
“We wouldn’t be able to run this lovely event without their support, and of course the support of our wonderful corporate sponsors’ whose help allow us to allocate every £1 raised on the day to hospice care on our wards, within the community and in patients’ homes.
Staff and volunteers dressed in 30s, 40s and 50s styles and were entertained by a variety of singers, musicians and dancers at this vintage-themed event.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from the end of life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
18th July 2018
With the summer comes Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair
Once again, Tower House at Westgate Gardens, Canterbury will be transformed into a venue for the annual Pilgrims Hospices Vintage Tea and Fair on Saturday 21 July between 12pm – 4pm.
After the roaring success of last year’s event, Pilgrims would like supporters and friends to join them again for a cream tea with homemade cakes, luxury vintage craft stalls and more. The much-loved traditional tea party raises valuable funds, which provide care for people within the community who are terminally ill and need Pilgrims support.
Last year the event raised almost £5,500, helping to provide nursing care, equipment and care within the community and in peoples’ homes. Your support again at this year’s event will help the Pilgrims Hospices charity to continue this good work.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, said: “Last year saw 100’s of visitors enjoying our traditional vintage summer fair. This year, our staff and volunteers will dress in 30s 40s and 50s styles and we welcome any visitors to do the same if they wish.
We have many new attractions, including jazz singers and musicians, dancers, funfair games, face painting and a wonderful new children’s story corner to name a few.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury
“We have many new attractions, including jazz singers and musicians, dancers, funfair games, face painting and a wonderful new children’s story corner to name a few. Our regular array of traditional jams and chutneys, plant stall and luxury craft stalls, along with some fabulous raffle prizes, will also be there.
“We are really excited to be welcome Stuart Weller, a close-up magician, to our special day. Stuart will entertain, enthrall and baffle our visitors with his tricks.”
Stuart said: “I support the Pilgrims Hospices charity because of the free care they offer to people who suffer illnesses that limit their life, along with the support they give to their families as well. Such a great charity.”
Headline sponsors Regal Estates has kindly supported Pilgrims by sponsoring the event. This means that every £1 from donations, raffle tickets and purchases on the day will go directly to Pilgrims care. Rob Brady, Sales and Lettings Director for Regal Estates, said: “We have supported this fantastic event now for three years running, alongside other Pilgrims events. Our continued support for Pilgrims means a lot to many staff members. We would encourage anyone to pop down, have a cream tea and maybe try winning something on a stall. We also have the main raffle tickets available for sale at our office.”
Our continued support for Pilgrims means a lot to many staff members.
Rob Brady, Sales and Lettings Director, Regal Estates“
Pilgrims retail charity shops team of staff and volunteers will also have a grand selection of beautiful outfits, hats and costume jewellery, plus much more for visitors to purchase on the day.
Leila added, “I’m very fortunate to have such a lovely group of volunteers who help me to prepare the refreshments and stalls for the event. There will be plenty to entertain everyone. I’m really looking forward to the event; thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help make the event so special.”
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from the end of life care given on its wards to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
