Back row, left to right: Sandra Wroe, Marie Wray, Bee Aczel, David Brookhouse, Michael ayres, Bill England. Front row, left to right: Harold Seckington, Simon Oakley, Karen Valentine.

Every year the money raised at the Helmdon Carnival is distributed to various worthy local causes and charities.

The 2002 cheque presentations took place on Wednesday 6th November in the Reading Rooms.

Simon Oakley, the Carnival Committee Chairman, had the honour of handing out the money.

£700 went to Brackley Cottage Hospital, received by David Brookhouse, the Chairman of the Brackley Cottage Hospital Trust. David said "The money will be put towards the refitting of the hospital's First Aid room. The Cottage Hospital is used by dozens of Helmdon residents every year and we are very grateful to receive the village's continued support."

£700 went to the Helmdon Sports Club and representative Michael Ayres says the money will be used for continued improvements to the sports pavilion on the Wappenham Road sports ground.

Another £700 went to the Reading Room, received on behalf of the Management Committee by Bill England. The money will go towards the refurbishment of the Reading Room toilet facilities to allow for disabled access as well as starting a fund for repairs to the flat roof on the extension.

The Helmdon Rainbows received £100. Representative Marie Wray said "The Rainbows is a new organisation in the village, we have only been going a few weeks. So far we have relied on everyone's generosity (and enthusiasm) to get going, so this money is very welcome".

£100 went to the Friends Of Helmdon School and Sandra Wroe, receiving the cheque on behalf of the Friends says that they will buy a new PA system to replace the old one that had reached the end of its life.

A final cheque for £100 went to the Helmdon Acorns, the village's pre-school group which is expanding from three to four mornings per week to cope with demand! Acorns representative, Bee Aczel, said the money will be used to cover the additional costs and buy some new wall hangings to brighten up the Reading Room during Acorns sessions.

The total money donated by this year's Carnival Committee was £2,400. A sum of money is also being ploughed back this year to purchase much needed new marquees, which the Carnival Committee hope to be able to hire out to other organisations throughout the year. The remainder of the cash raised by Carnival 2002 will be used as a start up fund for 2003.

Links
Carnival cheque presentations in 2001
Carnival cheque presentations in 2000