VITAL funds were raised for a Rugby youth club at its annual summer Garden Party.
The Bradby Club’s Garden Party was held at Bilton Grange Prep School by invitation of Headmaster Gareth Jones, co hosted by his wife Jemma Jones and Amanda Parker-Jones, wife of the Headmaster of Rugby School.
A bad weather forecast initially moved events indoors, with tables set up in the Library and the Gallery where they were entertained by the musical duo of Kirsten Gray and Geoff Tooley.
When conditions cleared up in the afternoon, guests were able to wander into the garden and purchase plants and floral tubs from the plants stall, run by Rugby School’s head gardener Paul Thornton.
Guests were served afternoon tea which they washed down with Pimms and prosecco, before heading to the ice-cream van for dessert.
A raffle run by the Bradby Club was well-supported, and children were entertained by face painting, a magician and a bouncy castle.
The event raised much-needed funds for The Bradby Club, which has been working with young people in Rugby for 106 years. Its open-access evenings provide a safe centre for young people, with sport, cookery, residential courses and more. Professional youth workers offer informal education in safe relationships and substance misuse in schools and other clubs.
Alison Ross, a Bradby Trustee and Chair of the Fundraising Committee, said: “The Garden Party is our major fundraiser for the year and the club needs every penny it can get. We are incredibly busy with young and older members, young carers and a large number of boxers who train at the club most days of the week.”
