Red Nose Day 2024: What have you got planned for Comic Relief this year?
RED Nose Day is back!
People across the district will be donning their red noses and taking part in a range of fun fund-raisers today (Friday) – all in aid of charity Comic Relief.
Please make sure you send us your stories and photos from the day, whatever you chose to do to raise that vital cash. Either tag us on social media or email newsdesk@newburynews.co.uk
And while we were talking about Red Nose Day, we thought it was a good chance to delve into the Newbury Weekly News archives and see what people have done to raise money for Comic Relief over the past 30 years.
In 1989 shocked Newbury shoppers witnessed a food fight at McDonald’s, but the birthday party that got out of hand was all for the worthy cause of Comic Relief.
The impromptu fight happened at the sixth birthday party of Zoe Awbrey from Thatcham after her father’s boss said she would donate £10 to the charity if someone threw cake in his face.
Virtually everyone there seized upon the chance to take a part in the flan-flinging, and a collection around the staff and customers raised £39.
Also that year infant helper at the Shaw-cum-Donnington Primary School, Jean Breadmore, cycled to work in Comic Relief style.
Pupils at Kennet School, Thatcham, marked out the school shield in pennies on a tennis court in 1993, with more than 140 pupils taking part.
A sponsored silence was also held and £303 was raised.
Support staff at Newbury police station were clowning around that year too, to raise money for Comic Relief.
In 1995 a bit of spit and polish was needed at WH Smith’s in Northbrook Street, as shop manager Brad Thompson tried his hand at shoe-shining for the day – and raised over £1,000.
The Clere School held tug o’ war competitions – the finale being between Year 11 and staff – a non-school uniform day and an evening disco for Year 7 and 8 pupils, to raise funds.
The landlord of Kintbury’s The Prince of Wales pub, John Constable, demonstrated a profitable brand of bare-faced cheek on Red Nose Day 1997 when he had his beard shaved off and raised almost £200.
Mr Constable submitted to his first shave in 14 years and filled the pub with villagers eager to see what he looked like without his beard.
Back in 1999 pupils at Winchcombe Infants School learned a valuable lesson about helping others.
Headteacher Lorraine Harvey wrote to parents saying children could dress in “something silly” for the day in return for a donation to Comic Relief – but asked for the money to come from children’s own piggy banks, so they could properly understand the meaning of giving to charity.
Dressed in a blaze of red, pupils from Woolton Hill Infants School, raised £200 for the charity in 1999.