Spring 2002

In addition to editing the FEDORA magazine, Carmen Robinson has succeeded Jan Fuller as Chair of the Oxshott Christmas Fair and will be adding her multi-various talents to this popular event.

A diplomat's daughter of Peruvian parentage and Argentinian birth, Carmen has travelled widely with her husband Alec pursuing a career in the oil industry. They have two sons both of whom were educated at Parkside and Charterhouse and have lived in the area for over eight years. Having served on the Boards of an International Women's Group in Indonesia, American Women's Clubs in Argentina and Oman, a charity fund-raising organisation in Bogota, Colombia, and as a programme director of a Petroleum Wives' Group in Stavanger, Norway, Carmen, an English-teacher by profession is no stranger to leading strong teams and innovating new approaches to fund-raising.

The Fair Committee already includes Australian, New Zealand and South American members. In such an international area as Oxshott the Committee is keen to attract the wide variety of skills available among our overseas residents and cement a sense of belonging to the community. Now, in its 42nd year, this event has become a major focal point of village life with over 300 residents giving their time and talents throughout the year.

This year's Fair will take place on November 22nd, 23rd and 24th. No, that's not a misprint! The Bargain Day Sale will be held on the afternoon of Sunday 24th - one of the changes that we hope will suit all concerned including, of course, our very welcome visitors. Other changes will include a complete re-vamp of the House & Home and Toy stalls. These have become so over-subscribed that sorting, transporting, and displaying the goods effectively in a limited area have become a logistical nightmare and the committee is keen to find new ways of resolving this problem.

Hopefully our leaflet will continue to be printed by Dorincourt, who used to print FEDORA's original news-sheet and include the Yehudi Menuhin and Reed's schools among their other clients. "We hope to survive" said Sharon Elliot, Production Manager of the Litho-Printing Department, "and would like to take this opportunity of thanking the people of Oxshott and Cobham for their support.

At their April meeting, the Committee under Carmen's Chairmanship will select the six charities to benefit from the 2002 Fair. Meanwhile, make a note of the dates...,you've got a long weekend of Christmas shopping ahead of you!

If you wish to propose a Charity for the 2002 Oxshott Christmas Fair, please ensure that 25 copies of the Charity's literature reach either Carmen Robinson (Chair), Hazelwood, Sandy Lane, Cobham, KT11 2EU, or Alexandra Horne (Secretary), 7 Silverdale Avenue, Oxshott, KT22 0JX - before Easter.

Barn Dance
On Saturday September 7, at Oxshott Village Hall, at 7:30 p.m. The music and calling will be by the 4-man Hogsback Band from Farnham. A fish & chip supper is included with a glass of wine. Tickets are £15.00 per person and are available from Mrs L.Aylward, 01372 842294, and Mrs P. Knee, 01372 844179. All proceeds will go to Oxshott Christmas Fair.