Thousands raised during Christmas fair fun (From Worcester News)

Thousands raised during Christmas fair fun

9:20pm Sunday 22nd November 2009 in

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A CHRISTMAS fair in memory of an Upton man has raised more than £3,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance.

Tony Butwell died aged 63 after suffering a heart attack in September but his family believe the air ambulance service gave them precious extra time with him after he was airlifted to hospital following his first heart attack in June.

The fair at Edwards car centre, Baynhall Garage, Kempsey, was held on Saturday and featured a tombola, raffle and games.

The event was opened by porcelain expert Henry Sandon and visitors bought goods from stalls selling Christmas gifts and bric-a-brac. Mr Butwell’s wife Jocelyn, of Uckinghall, near Upton-upon-Severn, said she was delighted with its success.

She said: “My husband would have been thrilled to bits if he’d been here to see it. I started planning it while he was ill.

“Obviously he passed away so it was even more important that we did a lot for it and got as much as we possibly could.”

Mrs Butwell added: “The last three months were very, very precious, especially the time he spent with our young granddaughter Ruby.”

She vowed to continue fund-raising for the charity.

Christmas was also the theme at Webbs garden centre after Santa arrived in a reindeer-pulled sleigh.

Excited youngsters were then able to meet Santa, who was helped by members of charity organisation the Droitwich Lions.

A 3D cinema experience was also launched at the garden centre in Wychbold.

The reindeers will be at Webbs again from 11am to 4pm between Saturday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 23, and on Christmas Eve from 11am to 3pm.