The Catholaity Fair 2014

 

Brighton and Hove’s premier Catholic charity event, the 56^th annual Catholaity Fair, took place today – for the last time - in Hove Town Hall.

Due to renovations of the Town Hall, future Fairs will be held elsewhere, with next year’s Fair rumoured to be located at the Brighton Racecourse.

Normally, I do my bit for the Fair, helping construct and staff the Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) stall, selling mainly books and bric a bac. This year, due to a dodgy back and arm, plus family commitments, I couldn’t help out.

 

However, I was able to offer some stock for sale. After a long-overdue cleanout of my music CDs, I was able to provide about 450 CDs for sale. My taste is quite eclectic and there was a varied selection of classical, jazz, spiritual (especially early black gospel), bluegrass and other country, popular and mainstream. The CDs (below) were offered at only 50p each and seemed to be selling well when I popped in for five minutes to take some pictures.

There were 40 stalls and, as usual, dozens of keen shoppers queued in the chilly morning for the 10.30am opening.  The stalls were set up by seven parishes, a variety of Catholic charity groups including HCPT, Mary’s Meals, the Breast Cancer Support Group, and one of my favourites, the Arundel & Brighton Deaf Service, where the smiling faces and busy hands convey a big ‘welcome’ to approaching shoppers (below).         

There were books, DVDs, games, bric a brac, tombola, plants, Christmas cards, bottles, cakes, clothing, shoes, handbags, wooden gifts, groceries, lucky dips, sweets and candy floss. Parishioner Gerard Eaton from Sacred Heart Church’s bottle stall was delighted with the day’s results. “We sold all our bottles” he beamed. Knowing that Gerard and Imelda started the day with several dozen bottles, I felt happy for them.  

 

The Fair raises money for worthy causes, showcases the good work that caring people do, provides an opportunity for meeting and networking, and is evidence for a city-wide community of believers who also reach out to others.