A RECORD £4,750 was raised at the 44th annual Camelsdale Primary School summer fete.
The heatwave helped to attract the largest crowd yet for the key yearly fundraiser, including pupils’ families, and ex-students, as well as friends and neighbours of the oldest school in West Sussex, which is 114 this year.
The funds raised will go towards the school’s eagerly awaited state-of-the-art eatery, Humphrey’s Café, due to be launched in September.
The new facility will mean pupils can enjoy hot meals, freshly made on site by the new catering team.
Special guest at the fete, was Sara-Jane Grey, chairman of the Haslemere branch of The Royal Society of St George (RSSG), who declared the event officially open.
Camelsdale School has a special association with the RSSG, as it was the first school to become affiliated to the organisation back in 2015. Another welcome visitor was ‘Carrotsdale’, the school’s Haslemere Hare, attending to raise funds for the town charity project.
A highlight this year’s fete was an impressive display of 16 classic cars, ranging from a 1942 Willys MB Jeep and a 1949 Alvis, to a 1978 VW Beetle convertible, as well as Austins and various MGs.
Headteacher Sarah Palmer, said: “This year’s fete was a wonderful occasion with the sun shining on us all. As well as being a major fundraiser for us, it also is an opportunity for families - past and present - and the wider community to come together in our amazing school grounds and celebrate the special school we are.
“I would like to thank our sponsors, Progress International and Keats, our parents for all their continued support of our school and all those who visited to make it the wonderful day it was.
“In particular, our classic car enthusiast friends who very generously brought along some amazing cars and spent the day with us, helping make this year’s event extra special,” Mrs Palmer added.
“The funds raised on Saturday once again were quite phenomenal for a small village school and show how creative we can be with our fundraising as well how generous our supporters are.
“The funds raised will go towards helping complete our latest major fundraising project our new Humphrey’s Café,enabling our children to at last have some wonderful hot meals at lunchtime.”
*Camelsdale Primary School’s second ‘Walk for Alfie’, takes place on Saturday, July 14, in memory of inspirational and much-loved teacher Clare Vedde, to help raise funds for her son Alfie’s education trust.
nTo register go to: www.cam elsdale.w-sussex.sch.uk/news events/walk-for-alfie