Market and poppy sales ensure Oakham Castle is buzzing
Oakham Castle was bustling with activity on Saturday, thanks to the Rutland Fairtrade Market taking place in the Great Hall, alongside the sale of poppies in the Castle grounds.
More than 800 visitors were attracted to the Fairtrade Market and there was already a good crowd inside the Castle when Dr Sarah Furness, Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, opened the market.
Dr Furness spoke about the genuine benefits that Fairtrade brings to producers in developing countries. More than 1.6 million farmers and workers are now able to improve their standard of living thanks to selling their produce on Fairtrade terms. As a Fairtrade county, Rutland can be proud that it is playing its part in helping some of the world’s most disadvantaged people to use trade as a means of alleviating poverty.
Dr Furness encouraged businesses, schools and community groups across Rutland to continue supporting Fairtrade, in order to ensure the county’s Fairtrade status is preserved.
Saturday’s market provided a showcase for a huge variety of Fairtrade products from around the world, demonstrating that the range of Fairtrade items now extends way beyond food. Visitors to the market also enjoyed Fairtrade refreshments served by members of the Rutland Youth Council.
In the run up to Christmas, the Rutland Fairtrade chocolate bar continues to be available at both Oakham Castle and Rutland County Museum.
A raffle raised £162 for the charity Send a Cow.
Anyone interested in helping to promote Fairtrade in Rutland should e-mail: rutlandfairtrade@gmail.com
On Saturday, the poppies that had been on display at Oakham Castle went on sale in aid of the Royal British Legion.
Organisers of the initiative from the Rutland Poppy Project said they were “totally blown away” by the support.
More than £11,330 was raised over the weekend and poppies and booklets are still available to buy from Oakham Castle, Library and Museum for a suggested donation of £2 per poppy and £3 for the commemorative booklet. The purple and white poppies have sold out but red ones are still available.