Burghclere Jumble Sale returns with a vengeance

More than £1,200 was raised as Burghclere held a ‘Back With a Vengeance’ jumble sale.

After a long 18 months, villagers turned out in their hundreds at Burghclere’s Portal Hall to buy and sell second hand goods.

There were also teas, cakes, a raffle and a white elephant stall as £1,288 was raised for Burghclere’s Church of the Ascension.

It was the first time the sale – usually held twice a year in the spring and autumn – has taken place since before the pandemic.

In a new turn, the outside space at Portal Hall was used due to the number of people wishing to sell their second hand goods due to the accumulation of unwanted goods since March last year.

One of the organisers, Nick Battle, said the event – which took place on Saturday, October 16 – had been a big boost for the community.

He said: “It went very well – we had masses and masses of things.

“Everyone thought it was great to be back again and it cheered everyone up.

“It’s a community event, and because it’s been such a long time we called it ‘Back With a Vengeance’ – and that’s what it was as everyone had a very good time.”

Luckily for the buyers and sellers the sun shone, as the queue to get into the venue ran down the outside of the hall.

Mr Battle continued: “The good fortune of sunny weather certainly helped the occasion with tea and cake being particularly popular with those sitting outside with their bags of purchases.

“We didn’t sell everything of course but we recycled things that didn’t sell.

“Burghclere is just a strong, little community – everyone did their bit.”