Despite all the disruption to Christmas over the last few years caused by the pandemic, the Swanage and Purbeck Rotary team bounced back in 2022 to serve up a full festive feast of events and services.
Raising an impressive total in excess of £22,000 for good causes, the team organised a successful Christmas market in Swanage, as well as helping Santa visit as many people as possible, delivering lots of Christmas cards and running a pop up Christmas shop in Station Road.
The Swanage Christmas Market organised by the Rotary brought out the crowds
Santa brought plenty of festive cheer
Santa’s first appearance was at the switching on of the Swanage Christmas lights in November, heralding the start of holiday season.
Not just confined to Swanage, Santa went out on his sleigh bringing plenty of festive cheer to the residents of Langton Matravers, Studland and Corfe Castle, as well. He also captivated the children when he dropped off Christmas goodies at primary schools and pre-schools in the area.
His appearance received welcome help from Rotary members and friends, members of the Swanage Carnival Committee, Swanage and Herston Football Club, Swanage Primary School and Crazy4Corfe.
The Christmas charity mail was popular again
Bigger and better for 2023
Santa was also at the Swanage Christmas Market, which was so successful last year that there are plans to make it bigger and better in 2023.
With a Royal Mail postal strike disrupting deliveries, many chose to use the Rotary’s local Christmas card delivery service. The Charity Mail took in, stamped, sorted, checked (at least three times!) and then finally delivered 3,400 Christmas cards.
As well as the market at the beginning of December, Rotary also had a pop-up Christmas shop in Station Road that was facilitated by the estate agents Corbens. The shop was open for more than two weeks selling jars of chutney, pickle, jams and marmalades, together with home-made Christmas cakes and puddings and a range of other Christmas produce.
Santa was able to visit the schools for the first time in a while
“We are so grateful for the incredible generosity”
Swanage and Purbeck Rotary president Chris Le Fevre said:
“We’d like to thank all of those who helped us make this a special Christmas. We would also like to thank everybody in the community, whether you bought something from our pop-up Christmas Shop, posted your cards with our Charity Mail service, took part in or attended the Christmas Market or came out to see Santa and his Elves when the Rotary sleigh toured our area.
“We are so grateful for the incredible generosity of our lovely community once again.”
Delivering Santa to the Studland Village children’s party
Summer fete date already announced
However the fundraising hasn’t stopped there. The date for the Swanage and Purbeck Rotary summer fete and craft fair has already been announced.
The popular annual event will be at Sandpit Field in Swanage on Thursday 10th August 2023.
Further information
- More about getting involved with Swanage and Purbeck Rotary is on its website
