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Coquetdale antique fundraiser aims to make Valley safe

An antiques valuation service will be at the centre of a major event in Rothbury that aims to raise enough money to turn Coquetdale into the UK’s first ever ‘heart safe’ valley.

The event on 29 June is being organised by the newly-formed Rothbury Women’s Institute (WI) and draws upon the expertise of Newcastle auctioneers Anderson and Garland, who are asking for a small donation for items valued.

Forming just one of a wide range of activities taking place throughout the day, the WI hopes to raise £10,000 for the Stephen Carey Fund, which aspires to buy and distribute between 6-10 public access defibrillators across Coquetdale to make it safe for locals and visitors alike.

The charity was formed last year in memory of Stephen, a 21-year-old Alnmouth man who collapsed and died from an undiagnosed heart condition in 2012 while playing for the village football club. More than 100,000 lives are lost each year due to sudden cardiac arrest and the Stephen Carey Fund is working to ensure life saving equipment is accessible all around Northumberland.

Initially envisioned as purely an antiques valuation day, the fundraiser has snowballed and will now celebrate everything vintage in a major event that will close off the whole of the village centre to cars.

Kate Holt, president of Rothbury WI, said: “We decided to do one big event and try to buy as many defibrillators as possible for Coquetdale so we can become a heart safe valley. It would be fantastic to become the first valley in Britain to achieve this.

“When we approached Anderson & Garland with our idea they were on board within 30 seconds. They are being very generous with their time and we can’t wait to welcome their experts and see what everyone will bring for them to see.”

The valuations - £5 for a single item, up to three items for £10 and young people’s items valued for just £1 – will be the core activity on the day. However spiralling interest in the project means Rothbury will step back in time on June 29 with a vintage tea shop, market, shop window displays and treasure hunt, vintage hunt ride through the village and display of vintage military and agricultural vehicles. Plus, there will be free rounds of golf available to players in retro gear, art competitions, photographic exhibitions and a historical display of teapots by Ringtons.

Extra cash will be raised by local artist Judith Kell, who is donating her entire collection for sale.

Kate said: “We started to make approaches but since word has got around, people have been very swift to come forward to offer their time and resources to make this a successful day. The generosity of everyone involved has been amazing and extremely moving.”

Andrew McCoull, managing director at Anderson and Garland, said: “A number of us live in Northumberland and know of the Stephen Carey Fund, which has the extremely worthwhile aim of making the area safe. This coupled with the drive of the Rothbury WI team made our involvement an easy decision indeed and we’re now very much looking forward to the day.”

The Fund has raised more than £43,000 in less than a year and matches money raised by partner groups to supply defibrillators and train people how to use them. The fund is the nominated charity for this year’s Northumberland Gazette Jam Jar Army appeal and Druridge Bay 10K run in May.

Stephen Carey Fund spokesman David Wilson said: “Groups have started to approach us with fundraising ideas as they are keen to collaborate to secure defibrillators for their communities. It’s imperative we get as many communities as we can involved and raise awareness.

“We have set ourselves an ambitious target with the antiques and vintage day. It’s going to be really big and completely different to anything done before and the event keeps growing. All I can say is watch this space!”

Andrew McCoull from Anderson & Garland added: “This is just the type of fundraiser that local businesses should be supporting. We want to raise as much money as possible, so get digging out your antiques and collectables!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Waddington .