Start your Christmas shopping with the annual St Peter's Hospice Christmas Bazaar

The annual St Peter's Hospice Christmas Bazaar is back for the 32nd year running, offering Bristolians a chance to get into the festive spirit and start their Christmas shopping.

 

The popular event will take place at the Council House in College Green on Saturday 3 November, where stalls will include Christmas decorations, cakes, cheese, crafts, jewellery, preserves, wine, chocolate, bric-a-brac and books.

 

Raising money for Bristol's only adult hospice, the bazaar will also feature a visit from the Town Crier.

 

Peter Galton, from Henleaze, who has been volunteering at the Bazaar for 32 years said: "The annual Christmas Bazaar has turned into a Bristol institution; it keeps growing in popularity and we now raise around £10,000 for patient care in Bristol.

 

"I fell into volunteering at the event when my wife and I visited the first fair at the Victoria Rooms in the early eighties. Joan Bourns approached us and said 'You are just the people I'm looking for; we have a small problem and I am sure you could help!' I found myself volunteered and in charge of the raffle stall and I'll be manning the same stall all these years later!

 

"I have taken part in many other fundraising events in the past but nothing compares to this one. Every year we attract over 1000 shoppers and we have raised well over £300,000 since the event began. And where else do you get the opportunity to ask for, and get, the names and numbers of all our lovely lady customers!?"

 

Admission into this year's Bazaar is 50p per person and shoppers will have the chance to buy St Peter's Hospice special Christmas cards. The event runs from 10am-3pm.

 

Services at St Peter's Hospice are provided free of charge but the NHS contribute just 23% of the £6.5 million needed to run the hospice yearly, meaning support from the public is essential.

 

Last year the hospice cared for 2,675 patients and supported over 6,000 family members including children.

 

Petra Vesela, community fundraiser at the charity, said: "The Christmas Bazaar is definitely one of our biggest and most popular events. It generates a great deal of funding for us and allows us to continue our work with patients in the city."

 

Peter Galton continued: "The raffle stall is always really popular; we usually provide over thirty prizes and have been well supported by local traders in the past. We're always looking for more though so if you have any unwanted gifts or donations please get in touch."

 

For more information about St Peter's Hospice and the Christmas Bazaar visit www.stpetershospice.org

 

If you would like to donate items for the Bazaar raffle please contact the fundraising office on 01179159300.