THE WET weather might have seen a host of events called off due to waterlogged pitches, but it hasn’t stopped one local charity from holding its open day.
Yeldall Manor, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity in Hare Hatch, near Twyford, was forced to cancel its open day on Saturday, July 14, due to the excessive rainfalls, but it kept calm and carried on with a virtual open day instead. “Our open day is normally the highlight of our year and hundreds come along to enjoy the atmosphere,” said Sue Hedger, administration and supporter relations manager. “All the rain we have had means that much of our grounds, in particular the car-parking field and the main lawn, where the marquee would have been, were water-logged.“If we had gone ahead, we foresaw cars being unable to get out of the field and chairs sinking immediately into the soil, as well as it being unpleasant and potentially slippery underfoot.”So to compensate and to recognise that the day is important for raising much-needed funds for its work, Yeldall set up a virtual open day, so would-be guests could make a donation to its funds. For more details, log on to www.justgiving.com/openday.
v Many former residents and staff at Yeldall joined together to bid farewell to its former director Ken Wiltshire, who has retired after 27 years. Andy Partington is the centre’s new director.