This year marks 50 years since volunteers started raising money for The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in the local area and they are calling on the support of local businesses and organisations to help make this a record year.
The original Wilmslow Committee was inaugurated by Mrs Norah Boddington in October 1965 and, at about the same time, the Alderley Edge Committee was started by Mrs Ann Midwood.
The two committees merged in October 2010, when it was felt it would be an advantage both socially and financially.
Old accounts are difficult to find, or incomplete, so it is not possible to provide a total figure for the ammount which has been raised in the local area during the last 50 years. However, since 2000, the Wilmslow Committee has raised just over £200,000 and the Alderley Edge Committee raised just over £165,000 from 1975 until it merged with Wilmslow five years ago.
The East Cheshire Branch, which includes Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, is consistently one of the top performing branches for the NSPCC in the country.
Over the years, typical fundraising events have included fashion shows, lunches, bridge drives, hot pot suppers, music evenings and sponsored walks and swims.
Additionally, house to house collections and annual flag days have raised large amounts of money, over £35,000 since 2005.
As well, NSPCC charity Christmas cards are sold by the committees and in the Combined Charities Christmas Shop at Wilmslow Library each year.
The minutes of the first committee meeting show that the first event organised was a sherry morning held at Norah Boddington's home at Heawood Hall, Nether Alderley in May 1965 which raised £300.
June Gass was elected secretary at the inaugural meeting of the Wilmslow Committee in October 1965. Now in her eighties, June is still part of the current committee and actively fundraising 50 years later. She is now also Vice President of the East Cheshire Branch and was presented with a Long Service Award from the NSPCC last year.
June explains "It was Norah's mother who suggested Norah should set up a Committee as the work had become too much for one person. So in 1965, Norah gathered a group of her friends together to form the Wilmslow Committee to raise funds for the children the NSPCC helped.
"Over the last 50 years they, and those who have followed them, have achieved this aim. Through their hard work, fun and friendship a great deal of money has been raised during this time to improve the lives of children, although the fact that there is still cruelty to children is a disgrace."
While celebrating their anniversary year, the committee are trying to raise an even higher figure than usual, so they are appealing to local businesses, schools, churches and organisations to ask them to get involved in any way they can.
Examples of how people can support this year's fundraising efforts include: holding events in aid of the charity, donating raffle prizes, offering sponsorship or displaying an NSPCC collection tin.
The committee is also trying to sign up 50 runners who would like to complete the Wilmslow Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd March in aid of the NSPCC.
Volunteer Louise Macklin said "We would like local people to come up with their own ideas and organise their own events. We're particularly keen for people to organise family and children's events in aid of the NSPCC e.g. mums and dads holding coffee mornings or lunches at home, or in cafes & restaurants, children's parties, barbecues."
She added "Perhaps somebody would like to hold a modern day equivalent of the original sherry morning – such as a Pimms lunch party in the summer with their family and friends."
Since 1965 the volunteers have enjoyed an incredible 50 years of fundraising and also built great friendships. Now they are keen that the tradition of raising money to improve the lives of children in this area continues.
Louise Macklin commented "We want this tradition to continue and want to ensure that the next generation take on the torch. The types of fundraising are always going to change but the fundamental desire to help children and protect them will stay the same.
"People may not have time to sit on a formal/central committee or take on onerous commitments, but there are always opportunities for others to raise money amongst their colleagues, families and friends in a more informal way."
If you would like to take part in this anniversary fundraising challenge, please contact Wendy McMahon on 01625 820 915 or email [email protected].
Photo Committee members from left: Sue Page, Carolyn Henderson, Maggie Turnbull, Wendy McMahon (Chairman), June Gass (Vice President & original secretary of Committee), Josie Gibbs.
