Charity volunteers scoop top award
By Anne Frazer
A AVVRIL Fletcher and her team have scooped ear A ch Shop of the Y the Cancer Resear Ye Awward 2024 for this area.
Success on awards night didn’t end there. Shop volunteers received Flame of Hope awards for their Services to Cancer Research started volunteering 34 years ago; Val White and Fiona Whitehouse, for 18 years, and Judith Sheil for 15.
Cutting the ribbon in 1991 was the unforgettable female impersonator, or comic in a frock, as he preferred to be known, Danny La Rue. Over 100 people queued up and the shop sold almost all its stock on day one.
The Market Street shop remains a bustling Aladdin’s Cave today. What makes it Shop of the Y Yeear? “First and foremost, it’s the people of Marple,” says Avril, manager for the last 22 years. “They’re so generous in bringing donations and buying our new and pre-loved iThhldd
items. They help us exceed our targets and we’re the only shop out of the 22 to manage that. We signed up 618 Gift Aid subscribersence to contributions.”
A Avvril’s experience plays a part also as she has a canny eye for quality and a knack with
internet searches to identify quality goods.
“Credit to the volunteers and two part-time items of interest to me when sifting through donations. I take a closer look, you acquire a sense for it, sometimes down to weight in the hand and brand awareness. Then arable items include a gold necklace we sold for £380 and vintage Mulberry handbag for £290. A Guinness toucan ornament fetched £300, and a ‘well-loved’ toy elephant brought editable £65,” A in a cr Avvril added.
I left the shop £20 lighter having bought a new pair of T Tootes slider shoes and a preloved M&S raincoat. There’s so much tempting stock including the colourful gin glasses (pictured, £6.99 each, gift boxed).
Is Avril tempted to splash out? “I’m very restrained. It’s perhaps a reaction to working in a cluttered stockroom. I like everything to be minimalist at home. However, when on holiday I rarely pass a charity shop without iiI’lkiftti
pping in. I’m looking for presentation as though, not purchases. Fortunately, my b.”
Th ing f stor
he Cancer Research shop is always lookfor stock and volunteers to help in the re or stockroom. Pop in if you can help.
Hats
s off to stylish lad
By Anne Fraze
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