Record breaking year for Etheldreda Craft and Food Fair

Last weekend saw the celebrations for St.Etheldreda, the founding Abbess of the first Abbey in Ely, get off to a fabulous start with the wonderful Etheldreda Craft and Food Fair on Palace Green.  Visitor numbers were slightly down on previous years due to a cold start to the day but those who did visit enjoyed a day surrounded by the splendour of Ely Cathedral and The Old Palace.  And whilst visitor numbers were down profits were up!
A day for the whole family, the annual fair included tempting stalls featuring local crafts, foods, jewellery, plants, gifts and summer produce.  This traditional fair also offered families the chance to try their luck on the tombola and raffle and test their aim on the coconut shy.
The Pimm’s and champagne flowed whilst hundreds of visitors enjoyed bacon rolls, delicious afternoon teas and strawberries and cream.  The fair coincides with The Open University degree ceremony day and visitors to the city for the ceremony thoroughly enjoyed the added bonus of the fair.  “To be able to enjoy a bottle of champagne in the sunshine with my family and friends as I celebrate my degree has been the icing on the cake for me” said one graduate.
A final figure is still being worked on but it looks like a record £4,500 will be raised for the Cathedral Choir Tour Fund.
Tours are funded  through fundraising by chorister parents.  The Tour Fund committee would like to thank all volunteers and local businesses who supported the fair and made it such a huge success.  Planning for next year is already underway!