Geddington Garage Sale

The 2012 Spring
Geddington Garage Sale
– was the name that this major fund-raising event was first called.

It all started when the Friends of the Church were looking for new ideas to raise funds. The first Sale was promoted in the 2012 Spring issue of The Newsletter, with the persuasive comment that it was ‘better than a car boot sale – you can nip to the toilet for a start, this is recycling on a grand village scale!’ The article continued:
You can set up a table outside your house with:
– Things you always meant to ‘Car Boot’ but never got round to
– Things you have made yourself (cakes, cards, jams etc)
– Items to raise money for you or your favourite good cause
For a pre-paid £5 per stall to Friends’ funds (£10 on the day) we will:
– Advertise the event across the County
– Include you in a map for buyers to see where your stall is on the day
– Trade stalls will not be allowed.

Very little has changed in the five years that this very successful event has been held. Jackie Binley, organiser and co-ordinator with her husband Gordon, has said: ” It has gone from strength to strength with everyone, including the world and his wife, joining in. Higham Ferrers, Gretton, Brigstock, Woodford and many others copied us. Some people rang me up, asking for advice and I gladly gave them a few tips on how to make it successful. The first Sale was boiling hot with people getting sunburnt and a stall selling candles had their stock reduced to pools of wax! We had over 100 stalls.”

“The money for the Friends is raised by Stall fees, Map sales and various Friends’ stalls, such as the book stall next to the Cross. The maps are usually confusing to strangers who find the directions strangely odd. People sometimes complain either a) The maps are nowhere to be found b) Maps are too complicated or c) Why should I pay for a map? I explain it is a donation for organising the event, but only once has anyone refused.”

The 2017 event takes place on Saturday 27 May, from 10am to 4pm. There are refreshments to be found, along with toilet facilities, at the Chapel on Queen Street and the Church of St Mary Magdalene on Grafton Road.

Jackie commented: “There are stalls on most streets, but there seems to be a proliferation on Wood Street this year, but there’s over a week to go for more stalls to enter from every street. She finished: “I have never suggested that stallholders should give me details of the money raised, but I bet it would be interesting to find out!”