Published: Sunday, 14th March, 2010 10:00am

Successful fair is word on street

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TWO charities have reaped the benefits of a traditional family fair.

Sebastian's Action Trust and the Ascot District Day Centre were presented with the proceeds of November's successful Victorian Street Fair in Sunninghill.

Jane Gates, director of Sebastian's Action Trust and of the fair's organisers, said she was delighted to receive the cash boost of £4,366.

She said: "This was the first year that the event had been organised by a committee of parish councillors, traders and the two local charities, and we think it was a fantastic achievement to have raised so much.

"We are extremely grateful to all involved in organising this fantastic village event and to those who came and showed their support who gave so generously."

The money will be used to furnish and equip the holiday house which the charity is building in North Waltham, Hampshire, for seriously-ill children and their families.

The home was the dying wish of nine-year-old Sebastian Gates who died on Christmas Eve 2003 from a rare form of childhood cancer.

Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council and Sebastian's Action Trust revived the fair after it had been absent for three years.

The other half of the proceeds was donated to the Ascot District Day Centre in Sunninghill.

John Upperton, chairman of the centre, said: "We were delighted, not only with the money, but the fact it was a fabulous community day and the community really did turn out in force.

"I'm enormously pleased by everyone's support and it's putting the elderly at the centre of the community."

The cash will enable more improvements to be carried out at the centre.

Plans are now under way for this year's street fair which will be held in November.

Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Cllr Barbara Hilton they were pleased with the outcome last year and added: "We have learned a lot from the first fair and we are going to plan out the timetable with target dates as well as meet with Sunninghill retailers."