Successful fair boosts mayor’s appeal (From Wharfedale Observer)

Successful fair boosts mayor’s appeal

1:50pm Friday 4th May 2012 in Local news By Newsdesk

Otley’s town mayor hosted a successful spring fair.

About 200 people, including councillors and MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) turned out to support the fundraiser at the Bridge Church last Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will boost mayor Councillor Nigel Francis’s bid to raise £1,000 for 20 different charities in his mayoral year, which ends soon.

He said: “There was a good display of stalls and the Otley Arts Club members brought along a number of paintings to display. I would like to thank everyone for all their help and support.”

With two fundraisers still to go, Coun Francis is hopeful he might hit his ambitious £20,000 target.

He said: “I am still getting asked if we have raised the money yet. Well we still have some way to go, but we will keep going to the end.”

Mr Mulholland said: “I was very pleased to get along to the Otley fair. It was good to join people supporting Nigel’s town mayor’s appeal as he comes to the end of his year in office, and I hope he manages to reach his £20,000 target for lots of excellent local causes.”

The fundraising continues this Saturday, when the mayor’s dinner-dance, featuring a five-course meal and live music, will be held at Otley Golf Club from 7.30pm. A small number of tickets are still available, priced at £25.

Steeton Male Voice Choir will perform a concert for the appeal at Otley Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 12, when the soloist will be soprano Emmy Wilde. Tickets cost £7.

For tickets or more details, contact Coun Francis on 01943 463467, or e-mail nigelfrancis@ btinternet.com.

Tickets for the choir concert will also be available on the door, or can be purchased from Colin Pitt’s Leeds Road Garage.