Wellswood's super successful Christmas fayre

Wellswood Christmas Fayre gave local residents the opportunity to get in the Christmas spirit and do some late night Christmas shopping in the heart of Wellswood Village. 

The 2024 event saw Wellswood Community Partnership bring back the Christmas Fayre in Ilsham Road for the second year. 

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The fayre is wholly put on by the partnership, an organisation completely made up of volunteers. It was the one thing residents all agreed they missed most in the community calendar.

Treasurer Amanda Castle said: "Putting on the fayre and seeing so many people happy and getting into the spirit of Christmas is the highlight of my volunteering with the Community Partnership. My volunteer role is to apply for all the permits, licences and paperwork necessary to put on the event in line with council policy and ensure it takes place safely."

She added: "I hope we are able to keep making the event bigger and better every year. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the event, businesses, residents, charity stall holders, Torbay Police, Torbay Council and all the wonderful volunteers.”

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The Ilsham Church of England Academy Choir opened the evening with the children from the local school singing Christmas carols. They were followed with a seaside town favourite, Punch and Judy, performed by Professor Poulton.

The event was supported by a number of local businesses that provide support and sponsorship; SWISCO provided the road close signs and extra bins free of charge, Kents Cavern provided sponsorship towards the overall costs of the event;

Wellswood Londis and Wellswood Coop generously gave chocolate to Santa for him to give to the children. The Flower Corner provided power to the stage, Artisan Gallery helped towards the costs of the event and Steve Holdup of Torbay Display oversaw the road closing on the night.

John Couch turned their estate agency into a grotto with Santa saying: "I  met many local children who were all on the nice list. I also saw a couple of nice houses for sale and I may purchase a summer residence here in Wellswood.”

Wellswood’s living Christmas tree, planted by the late Robert Summers, was decorated with an array of lights. Robert had been one of the original team that had reinstated the fayre last year and was a member of the Wellswood Community Partnership Steering Group but sadly, he passed away before he could see the success the fayre he had helped create has become.

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Mike Cowdrey, partnership chairman, said: "The fayre is an event for the Community put on by the Community, the event is organised and run entirely by volunteers. Without our team of volunteers and businesses there would not be an

event.”

This year saw many more stalls taking a pitch at the fayre, including the RNLI returning and National CoastWatch Institute which has a look out point in Wellswood at Daddyhole Plain joining the Fayre for the first time. Pets as Therapy had a stand with some of their lovely therapy pets volunteering with their owners.

Most of the Wellswood Village shops stayed open until past 8pm and provided many treats above and beyond their normal offerings. Ilsham Café put on a tasty evening menu and the Kents Pub had a queue down the street as the delicious smell of their burgers drew people to them.

Torbay Communities provided the Insurance and much needed guidance on holding an event of this scale. Wellswood councillor Hazel Foster, said: "The fantastic team of volunteers together with financial support from our councillor’s ward fund and local businesses, delivered a bit of Christmas Magic."

Councillors Katya Maddison and Nicole Amil also supported the fayre. Wellswood councillor Patrick Joyce was a big supporter of the partnership and fayre but sadly passed away earlier this year.

Wellswood are looking to gain sponsorship to make next year’s event even better by adding Christmas street lighting to Ilsham Road.

Anybody interested in sponsoring can contact the partnership via their Facebook page.