Berrow events to be shelved in 2013 (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Berrow events to be shelved in 2013

5:29pm Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News

TWO major events will be missing from Berrow's social calendar next year unless more supporters come forward.

Only three members of the public attended a crucial meeting last night to discuss the future of Berrow Gig, which has been making a loss in recent years.

At that meeting, it was decided not only that Berrow Gig would not take place next year unless new sponsors come forward, but that Berrow Fayre will not take place either unless more volunteers are found.

Berrow Gig, which raises funds for the village hall, made an £800 loss last year.

This year's event was switched from the village green to the Millennium Field so the village hall toilets could be used - saving on the £400 cost of portable toilets - but it still made a loss of more than £500.

Lynn Smith, co-organiser of Berrow Gig, said seven of the event's nine regular volunteers are aged over 60 and they had given up more than ten hours of their time on the day.

She said: “Unfortunately, the numbers attending the event were down, possibly due to the bad weather, holidays, the Olympics and, regrettably, people 'boycotting' the event due to the move from the village green.

“As the event is put on to try to raise funds for the village hall, it is not possible that it continues to make a loss, the event must at least break even.”

She added: “The Berrow Community Association's entertainments team will continue to organise a number of smaller fundraising events in the village hall which will be advertised in the normal way.”

Anybody with suggestions for events which could be held in the village hall can e-mail lynn.smith2@talktalk.net'