St Mary's packs 'em in for Christmas fair

Outside, every available parking space had been filled. Inside, staff, pupils and community service club members were kept busy keeping pace with the trading as pupils, parents and supporters of the educational trust for special needs youngsters sought Christmas bargains.

Father Christmas, who locally had a particularly busy day, was in his grotto receiving young visitors who had responded to his invitation to book a sitting with him.

The event was in aid of school and college funds.

Bexhill Rotary Club members were running a hoopla. Lions Club members had their own stall.

Members of the college Enterprise group, which had taken three of the eight trophies at the recent business enterprise awards, had examples of their pottery, crafts and candles on sale

Other pupils were manning a plant stall featuring plants they had reared themselves.

Supporter Pat Dennis, whose hobby is sugarcraft, had stocked a stall with her own beautifully-decorated Christmas cakes.

With Christmas hampers as the prizes, raffle tickets changed hands fast thanks to generously donated contents.

All this was in addition to the grand raffle.

When the crowds had left and the takings were counted, the hard-working team were delighted. Last year's fair raised 5,000 - a record. This year's raised 7,500, some 2,000 of which came from pre-sales and raffle tickets.