Organisers struggle to raise funds

A Shropshire town may face a bleak midwinter if cash cannot be found to save the Christmas festival.

Crowds flock to Wem to enjoy the festive celebrations but event organisers are struggling to find finances and time is running out.

The Wem Christmas festival committee is hoping for a “miracle” to help raise nearly £5,000 in the next five months.

The bill for this year’s event is expected to be about £8,500 but so far only £4,000 has been put into the coffers from the town council and committee savings, leaving a shortfall of about £4,500.

Treasurer Margaret Prodger said if the money cannot be raised in time for the beginning of December plans for stalls, displays, a visit from father Christmas and a traditional town crier will have to be cancelled.

She said: “We can’t get any grants because we are not expanding, and we can’t expand because we’ve got no money, so it’s a vicious circle.

“I have got no idea what we are going to do. The committee wants to go on, but if we can’t raise the money we will have to cut costs.

“Maybe we will just do the lights switch-on and that will be it. We are trying not to think that way, but in the worst-case scenario that’s what will happen.

“People don’t realise how much things cost to keep it up.”

Mrs Prodger said the event would be in its fifth year this year.

The annual general meeting of the Christmas Festival Committee will take place on September 8 at 7pm at the Conservative Club in Wem. Anyone interested in helping is invited to attend.

Alternatively, anyone with fundraising ideas can contact the committee’s secretary, Ann Whitfield on (01939) 232963.