RaT Recovery Project
The group of local residents – known as the Rose & Thistle Reborn Team – working hard to purchase and restore the Rose & Thistle as a community pub are continuing to raise funds for the project.
Having already raised over £4,500 through a GoFundMe campaign, the latest step along the way was a Quiz night held at the village hall on Friday 14th November, which proved to be a great success. The sell out event raised around £4,000 from ticket sales, a raffle and a silent auction.
Funds raised so far have been used to secure membership of the Plunkett Foundation, a charity that supports the development of community businesses, as well as a “Red Book Valuation” of the Rose & Thistle. Together, these have provided a vital evidence base for the Rose & Thistle Reborn Team to enter into negotiations to agree a purchase price for the pub.
The organisers are hugely grateful to the wide range of local businesses and organisations who supported the event and donated prizes. Land Improvement Holdings, developers of Haddenham Airfield and keen to support investment in Haddenham’s infrastructure, donated a flight for two to the silent auction.
Haddenham businesses like The Rising Sun, Haddenham Garden Centre, Zero Carbon Haddenham, The Beauty Barn and Studio SVN also donated vouchers to be bid for. The event was also supported by our neighbours, like the Churchill Arms in Long Crendon, South East Academy of Martial Arts, Thame Players, Vale Brewery, Princes Risborough Golf Club, Wycombe Heights and Motts Travel who all donated lots for the auction.
Raffle prizes included a Fortnum & Mason Hamper, Winterfest Tickets and a voucher from Sandy Lane Farm who supply organic veg to Blooming Fruity – a great community business in the village who also donated the grapes to accompany the cheese boards provided to every team.
The prize for the Quiz – a fitting hamper of beer and bubbles – was donated by the British Beer and Pub Association who also donated a tour of Hook Norton Brewery to the silent auction. BBPA continue to be supportive of the Rose & Thistle Reborn Team’s vision to turn the RaT into an inclusive and vibrant community hub.
