A STYLISH 1950s gramophone will be up for grabs at a blind auction to raise funds for the Friends of Richardson Hospital during this year’s 1940s weekend vintage fair in Barnard Castle.
The gramophone has been donated by town resident Suzanne Thomas to help raise funds for the hospital.
Mrs Thomas joined the The Friends of Richardson Hospital committee earlier this year, inspired by her late mother, Marie Yarker, who was well-known for her tireless fundraising for the community facility. She said: “At the end mum was at the Richardson Hospital and it was then as I looked around her room it hit home just what a difference she had made.”
Mrs Thomas said a number of items in the room had been purchased with money raised by the friends including a reclining chair and air purifiers, but it was the view of an art work that she found so poignant.
She added: “Mum was very fortunate to be in a room which had a great view of the memory tree which she was so passionate about. She found it so uplifting. As I looked around her room the number of things which the friends had helped buy really made me think.
“Being on the receiving end of amazing care at the Richardson Hospital made me realise just how important it is to keep it going.
“Mum invited me to the open day at the Richardson Hospital when the memory tree was unveiled.
She was dropping not-so-subtle hints about people getting involved with The Friends of Richardson Hospital and volunteering to help, but I just couldn’t commit the time then, but I did run the cafe with her at the vintage fair and she joked then that I would be running it the next year.”
True to her prediction, Mrs Thomas has now taken on responsibility for organising the vintage fair for the friends and will be continuing the work her mother did in raising cash. The 1940s vintage fair has previously been held in the Methodist Church Hall, but this year sees a change of venue. The two-day fair, where there will be a range of 1940s and retro items on sale, will be held at St Mary’s Parish Hall, in Newgate, during the weekend on June 22 and 23.
The change in venue ensures visitors have plenty of room to browse at their leisure, Mrs Thomas says. There will be 12 stallholders including one for The Friends of the Richardson Hospital.
Mrs Thomas said: “The town council wanted to spread activities throughout the town and not just bunched up in one area.
“We’ve reduced the number stalls as well, but it means everyone gets a good display and visitors get enough room to get around.”
She will be manning the stall with the help of her daughters Jessica, Anya and Isobel, whom she hopes to encourage into becoming friends volunteers. She added: “We will have a cafe serving refreshments as well, teas, coffees and cakes. Mum was a prolific baker and she baked cakes for anyone and everyone to help raise money for all sorts of causes.
“If anyone wants to do that in return it would be wonderful. For mum the two greatest passions were the Guides and Richardson Hospital. They were both so close to her heart. And this fair is about raising money for the friends.”
Mrs Thomas will be getting into the spirit of the 1940s swing during the event by wearing an authentic dress that once belonged to the “daughter of the dales” Hannah Hauxwell. She added: “Mum loved brooches and so I will be wearing one of her sweetheart brooches, so there will be a little bit of mum with me.” The fair will be open from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday and from noon the next day. Anyone who wishes to make donations for either the Friends of Richardson stall or provide baked goods can contact Mrs Thomas on 07792 383 197 or by email on mygenera
