ORGANISERS of the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza have donated thousands of pounds to local charities across the Five Valleys and beyond.
Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (SVTEC), which this summer drew the biggest ever crowds to their popular annual event, gave away a total of £14,000.
The donations were announced at a special award evening at The Fromebridge Mill in Whitminster on Tuesday January 10, which saw representatives from 19 regional and national charities attend to receive their cheques.
Among those in the Stroud district to receive donations were Woodchester Mansion, The Vale of Berkeley Railway, Dursley Heritage Centre and The Cotswold Canals Trust.
Martyn Slater, chairman of SVTEC, said: “Last year nearly 20,000 visitors flocked through the gates of the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza making it the best attended show in the events 42 year history.
“This meant that not only are we in a great position to invest in the sustainability of our future shows, but also support many worthwhile causes and charities.
“The show is the biggest event of its kind ran entirely by volunteers, without them, the show simply couldn’t run.
“It was great to get our section leaders to nominate their chosen charity, as way to incentivise them to continue to give their time freely to make our wonderful show happen.
“Nothing could prepare me for the sense of pride and humility I felt recently at our charity presentation evening when 19 of the 20 charities selected attended the evening.”
Mike Smith, founder member of the club provided a short presentation about SVTEC and the event.
The largest sums issued went to Vale of Berkeley Railway, the Cotswold Canals Trust, as well as national charities Prostate Cancer UK, Cobalt and Diabetes UK.
The event organisers are staunch supporters of Cobalt, and as a result the charity has been actively fundraising on site at the show for 15 years.
In addition to the cheque presented, a team of Cobalt volunteers staffed the ticket gates and also raised an additional £3,000.
Jim White, chair of the Trustees of Cotswold Canal Trust said he felt humbled to receive donation, especially after hearing about all the other worthwhile causes.
“We are sincerely grateful the money received, it will be earmarked towards a trip boat that will be based at Ebley Wharf on the restored Stroudwater Navigation,” he said.
“By using the boats we are able to raise funds to continue the restoration, which in turn helps regenerate Stroud.”
Meanwhile, Mike Hoskin, Paul West and Julie West from the Vale of Berkeley Railway will put the donation towards the cost of purchase, transport and installation of an historic original signal box.
The box will be purchased and installed at Sharpness. It is hoped that the first passenger trains will be running from Berkeley to Sharpness in 2020.
Whilst it is a massive undertaking to re-open a railway line, they have received support from Network Rail and have also managed to purchase two historic freight locomotives.
The charity Prostate Cancer not only received a cheque from the show organisers, but also had high visibility at the event, thanks to local business Rocket Rentals Ltd from Dursley.
The Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza is an annual event which returns to South Cerney Airfield, near Cirencester on the weekend of Friday August 4.
It is the largest show of its kind still run entirely by volunteers. Each year the show features the popular Steam Arena, with non-stop steam demonstrations and literally thousands of vintage vehicles from classic cars, tractors, commercial vehicles, vintage bus and coaches, motorcycles, scooters, traction engines, miniature steam, industrial trucks, military vehicles, caravans to emergency vehicles.
Plus a Countryside Arena featuring dog shows, ferret racing, rare breeds, animal conservation, alpacas, shire horses, horse logging, falconry displays to children’s pony rides.
The shows goal has always been to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy.
The show has evolved allot over the past 40 years, but the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, entertain and celebrate our unique transport history and the preservation of historical vehicles, and plans for the 2017 event are well underway.
For further information visit www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk
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