The Chairman's Report 2024

In 2023, the Committee of the Rottingdean Fair decided to refresh this much loved annual event. Our challenge was to find new ways to keep it engaging and relevant for visitors of all ages in the 21st century, and thereby ensure its success and financial stability for years to come.

Key to our thinking was re-evaluating its purpose. For many years now, the Fair has largely focussed on raising funds for local good causes. But the world has changed. The public is more discerning than ever and has greater expectations - even when it comes to visiting a traditional village fair! We needed to deliver more and deliver it better. Similarly, as the cost of staging the Fair increases every year - we would also have to become more creative from a commercial perspective too. With all this in mind, we resolved that the refreshed fair should have three new primary aims:

  • To deliver a joyful and entertaining day out for our community and the wider world

  • To uphold the spirit of a traditional village fair - but with some refreshing modern twists

  • To continue to grant a varying proportion of the profits to local good causes - but to also reinvest in the visitor experience too

Our plan to achieve these ambitions was to:

  • Improve the range and diversity of stalls

  • Extend on the food and beverage offering

  • Provide more entertainment for children

  • Improve the overall layout and decoration

  • Ensure all areas of the event are equally attractive

  • Introduce an online and social media presence

  • Attract a greater and more diverse range of visitors

From a financial perspective, our plan was to:

  • Revaluate and update our stalls charging structure

  • Attract more commercial sponsors with an improved proposition

  • Identify and introduce new fundraising initiatives

The Plan

The Result

This year, the Rottingdean Village Fair welcomed more than 4,000 visitors on the day - and the village and its shops, restaurants and bars were all truly buzzing with life. Equally importantly, our stalls took lots of money too and the finances of the Fair are secure once again.

Highlights of the 2024 Fair included sixty-five fabulously diverse community, charity and commercial stalls, an extended food and beverage offering of three food stalls and two bars, two entertainment stages featuring a host of local talent and performers, and the ever-popular dog show! For the kids this year, there were bouncy castles, Punch and Judy shows, candy floss and ice creams, and even a mini-farmyard complete with piglets, lambs and chickens!

The feedback we have received from visitors and stallholders alike has been extremely rewarding - and we are delighted to report the following financial headlines:

  • £8,000 raised by community and charity groups on the day

  • £7,000 raised on the gates and at the bars

  • £2,100 to two local schools, PARC and The Royal British Legion

  • £500 in additional matched funding also arranged

Our Lady of Lourdes School was able to purchase two balance bikes and St Margaret’s School bought some much-needed sensory equipment. Other contributions were made towards a youth outreach initiative for PARC and the memorial restoration for the Royal British Legion.

Our reserves now stand at £8,557, which puts us in good stead for next year’s special celebrations as well as helping to secure our future thereafter.

Behind the scenes, the Rottingdean Village Fair takes a lot of time and money to stage. Many people are involved - and its success depends on the generous support of our many volunteers, sponsors and other contributors. Without these special people, it simply wouldn’t happen.

First and foremost, we are so very grateful for the invaluable financial support we receive from our commercial sponsors and we extend our gratitude to every one of them:

  • Brighton Power Tools (Our Key Sponsor)

  • Christopher Stringer

  • David Webb Residential

  • The Duck Inn

  • Evergreen Waste

  • The Mewes Vets

  • Urban Security

  • The White Horses

Together, their funding helped to deliver a truly amazing event which simply couldn't have happened without them:

  • £1,100 from our sponsors.

  • £500 grant from The Parish Council

We also launched the highly successful ‘Friends of the Fair’ initiative, comprised of passionate villagers and supporters dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Rottingdean Village Fair. Their contribution enabled us to cover a variety of up-front costs which would have previously been unaffordable.

  • £1,845 from The Friends of the Fair

We would also like to give a special mention to The Plough Inn and its manager, Kenny, who contributed a considerable amount of time to help deliver a great food and beverage offering - and his wonderful helpers, David Hall, Ian Godfrey, Scott Lahive and Sara, James and Jamie.

Other special mentions must go to all of the following:

Our set-up team including David Bull, John Bryant, Bernard Turnbull, Kay Tipple, John and Jackie Blackman, Mike and Crista Sexton, David Spellman, Colin and Penny Alexander, Marion and Robert - and Jessica and William Carr of High Barn Farm.

Our many tireless helpers taking money on the gate including Gayle, Crista, Sally, Ann, Jackie, John, Edwina, Julie, Claire, Carol, Diana and Bernard who, together, took over £2,300!

John Bryant and the owners of Hilders Field for allowing parking on their land. All the many entertainers who performed on the Green and in Kipling Gardens. Amanda Davidson for her beautiful poster, Bob Webzell for his photography, Rowland Myers for his sound and our long-serving Master of Ceremonies, Maurice Thorogood.

And finally, my express thanks to the Committee for their considerable efforts over the last year - Lynda Hyde, Peter Litten, Charly Jones, Nadine Fox, Jo Newman and David Currie. A special note of thanks also to our Treasurer, Steve Grantham, who is stepping down this year having served since 2017.

All in all, 2024 was an truly fabulous year for the Fair - and we thank you all for being a special part of it. We look forward to welcoming you all back next year for an even more spectacular event!

Best wishes,

DOWNLOAD 2024 PROGRAMME

GARY FITZPATRICK Chair of The Rottingdean Village Fair

an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

‘What a fabulous jam-packed day!’

‘Simply brilliant - so many people and such a great vibe - thanks so much.’

‘I’d say it was the best village fair so far!’

‘Fabulous day. So well organised and something for everyone…’

‘So lovely to see the village buzzing and full of life…’

‘I’ve never seen it so ram-packed before! What a fantastic day!!’

‘Best one I can remember!’

Here's just a few of the many complimentary messages we received...

info@rottingdeanvillagefair.co.uk