Village event raises £200 for North Baddesley Community Library

North Baddesley Community Library volunteers ran a stall with a tombola, hand-crafted jewellery, pre-loved jigsaws and books at the event on Saturday, May 18. 

The sun shone and hundreds of people enjoyed a good wander around a variety of stalls. The library stall made around £200 to go towards funds to keep it running at All Saints Church, Rownhams Road. 

People were impressed to hear that volunteers work hard to keep the library open three days a week (Tuesday 2pm-4pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-12pm) and run a jigsaw exchange. 

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Joy Clamp, library volunteer, said: “Books and jigsaws sold on the day were surplus to stock as although there are plenty of library shelves to explore, storage space is limited and we receive donations of books from readers in the area thus maintaining a good choice of modern titles. 

“There will be a chance to buy more pre-loved books and jigsaws at All Saints Church later in the summer and also a jigsaw stall on Romsey market coming soon.

"Library volunteers are grateful to members for their ideas and comments and help ensure it continues to be a community resource accessible to everyone. Visitors may be surprised at the stock of crime, fiction, non-fiction, classics and large children’s area available for free especially as buying books and postage have become so expensive.”

The evening before the village day, some teenagers helped to lay AstroTurf as organisers feared the weather would be wet. 

Joy added: “Ashton Brooks, Timmy Lester, Liam King, Leo Timo and Jimmy Lloyd were playing football on the field when four of the organisers realised the huge task of unrolling five rolls of AstroTurf was too much for them.

"Weighing around one tonne each, we were so glad the boys agreed to help. The gateway to the village field had been very muddy all year and the AstroTurf made a big difference especially to the vintage cars.”