Bolton: Success at Mayor's Christmas Fair for good causes

A range of charity stalls displayed plenty of Christmas bargains including Christmas cards, face painting, games, and food and drink.

All of the proceeds were in support of local charities, including Mayor Cllr Ahktar Zaman’s chosen charities Bolton Hospice, Fortalice, Girl Guides, and Bolton Wanderers in the Community.

Cllr Zaman said: “I am pleased to say that with the help of colleagues across the council it’s been a great day.

“We have had a very good turnout.

“It’s been a day full of fun, which helped raise money for good causes through lots of different stalls.

“It has been a great team effort.

“I really want to thank the previous mayor’s and mayoresses who have been instrumental in bringing it all together.”

From left to right: Cllr Richard Silvester, former mayoress Lynda Bryne, former mayor John Bryne, Mayor Mayor, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Labour leader Cllr Nick Peel, Cllr Linda Thomas, and Cllr Elaine Sherrington (Image: Newsquest)

There were also various raffles and tombola as well as a performance by the Bolton Deaf Society Choir.

Chairman of Bolton Hospice Judith Bromley had a stall set up selling Christmas cards and said that is extremely vital to them to be able to raise the funds, with the cost of services being £4m a year.

She added: “Events like this are the lifeblood, and being able to come out in the community and help people who have a service of hospice is really great.

“It helps to keep us going and we are very lucky to have such a big event.”

Tom Ridyard, MBE, says that the money raised today for the charity the Royal National Lifeboats Institution will help anyone in difficulty at sea.

Tom Ridyard MBE alongside a Lifeboats volunteer (Image: Newsquest)

Despite never living at sea, he has continued to raise money for Lifeboats for 40 years, and says it is the oldest charity in Bolton, and has existed since the 1900s.

He said: “It’s a wonderful event.

“It’s all about raising money for people in difficulty at sea.”

Another stall that was also raising money was Animals Asia who have been helping rescue bears in captivity for around 30 years ago.

Volunteer Kevin Connolly said: “It’s so cruel for the animals and it’s so unnecessary.

“We have been here for about four hours, and we have raised just under £200.

“People are giving what they can.”

Before and after the moon bears are rescued (Image: Newsquest)

It is one of many events held in aid of the mayor’s charity’s, with the charity ball, and the Bollywood themed night taking place earlier this year.

At the end of the year, the money raised for the mayor’s charities will then be shared between the four charities.

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If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.