21st Annual Charity Antiques & Collectors Fair To Support Island MND Community

An annual Isle of Wight charity antiques fair held in memory of a much-loved Island resident will return this weekend to raise vital funds for people living with Motor Neurone Disease.

The 21st Annual Charity Antiques & Collectors Fair will take place on Sunday (8th March) at Northwood House in Cowes, running from 10am until 3:30pm.

Organised in partnership with the Northwood House Charitable Trust, the event raises funds for the Isle of Wight branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, supporting local people living with the condition, as well as their families and carers.

The fair is held in loving memory of Mavis Summerfield, who sadly died from MND in 2002.

Since then, the event has been organised annually in her memory, apart from during the Covid pandemic.

Over the years it has become one of the branch’s key fundraising events, helping provide much-needed support to those affected by the disease on the Island.

Visitors can browse a wide range of antiques and collectables from stallholders, many of whom have supported the fair for many years.

Refreshments and light snacks will also be available to purchase during the day.

Entry costs £3 per person or £5 for two people, with accompanied children admitted free. Dealer tickets cost £6 each, available from 9am.

Parking is available at Cowes Enterprise College (cars parked at owners’ risk).

This year’s event will also mark a significant moment for the organiser, who has announced it will be the final fair they personally run after many years of dedication.

They have thanked stallholders, visitors, family members and volunteers who have supported the event over the years, including their sister Jennie Lewis, who previously helped run the fair before stepping down from the committee.

With family commitments changing and fewer volunteers available to help organise the event, running the fair has become increasingly difficult.

However, there is positive news for the future, with the Northwood House events team expressing interest in taking over the organisation of the fair from next year.

Despite stepping down, the organiser says the event has been hugely enjoyable and something they will miss greatly after more than two decades of fundraising for a cause close to their heart.