Review of 2021
We wanted to share with you the success of the Tolpuddle Events Committee (TEC) last year (2021). Despite the challenges faced due to the COVID restrictions, we have been very successful in raising money for the Church, Village Hall, and other charities. This has been down to all the hard work of those on the committee and others outside the committee supporting us. We are now looking for more villagers to come and join the committee and provide new ideas for Village fundraising. If we get a major response (which would be absolutely brilliant!), we may need to limit committee numbers, but develop our volunteer list as we also need plenty of these for specific events to help us make 2022 an even better year! The TEC is a super friendly, relaxed committee that are great fun to work with. We provide an open forum for discussion on helping to prepare for events and for active participation during events, which are great fun too. It's the best way to meet new people in the village. If you would like to help in any way, kindly email us stating how you would like to be involved either by joining the committee or providing support for events. If you have any specific skills, experience, contacts, etc. that you think would be beneficial for the committee and village please let us know in your email.
Hilly and Jonathan (Co-Chairs) want to thank all the TEC committee and helpers for their hard work and enthusiasm during the committee’s first year in 2021. From a standing start, we have managed to raise £8,425 for the Church, Village Hall, and other charities such as Mencap, Air Ambulance, Children’s Society, either by direct donations or through their participation in the events we have run. We have also been hugely grateful to some very generous sponsors who have supported our events.
After eighteen months of Covid, our first event was the Summer Sizzle at the end of August 2021 which was an outstanding success that not only raised considerable money but brought the village together and provided an excellent opportunity to cast aside the COVID blues for a time.
The Harvest Supper in October 2021 was a great event which sold out so quickly. Many provided wonderful food and entertainment. Again, raising considerable money because of the well-managed organisation.
The Fireworks (November 2021) exceeded all our expectations. The combination of great weather on the night, excellent food, entertaining music, a bar that just about managed to keep up with the demand, and of course the wonderful firework display and bonfire. A true team effort with every aspect working so well together. The numbers attending reaching about 600 was either a result of everyone wanting to celebrate something outside with the family, great advertising, or just luck, it all led to an amazing atmosphere.
In December 2021, the Christmas Hampers were a great success, despite not being able to hold the Party for Covid reasons. We were able to go ahead with the carol singing around the village which was enjoyed by all those participating. A very big thank you to those putting the hampers together and those organising the tickets and sales and prize draw, again raising considerable revenue for distribution to the Church and Village Hall.
One of our committee members has also kept the villagers on their toes with window picture competitions during the year.
We wish everyone a great 2022 where we can do it all again and hopefully be able to enjoy similar and new events raising money for deserving organisations.
Hilly & Jonathan || Co-Chairs TEC