Marlborough’s long-serving Town Crier, Alfie Johnson, steered his scooter expertly along the High Street on Wednesday afternoon (August 20) to help advertise Marlborough and District Rotary Club’s traditional August Bank Holiday car boot sale on the Common.
Alfie, now 83 years-old, was in jovial mood as he handed out flyers with Rotary’s Sally Wolfenden. Two years ago this month he had a stroke, but is now back on duty with his bell and his smile, serving Marlborough.
With car boot sales you have to be up early to catch the best pitches – the event will be open from 7.00am to 1.00pm. This year it is in aid of END POLIO NOW, which has the backing of Rotary International – as well as other Rotary charities.
There are still three countries left where polio is endemic. But progress towards eradicating this terrible disease has been spectacular. The campaign has funded the immunisation of 2.5billion children – and, as its current campaign slogan has it, “We are that close” to wiping it out.
This slogan was used in the summer during Rotary’s worldwide push to raise funds and awareness for the campaign. They mounted the ‘World’s Biggest Commercial’ which included 100,000 messages of support from world leaders, celebrities who are involved with the campaign – and lots of supporters from around the world.
Marlborough and District Rotary Club’s August Bank Holiday car boot sale has become a fixture in the calendar. Last year it was held at Marlborough College Water Meadow, drew record crowds and ended with a £1,600 net profit for charities.
Marlborough is among the most expensive places in the UK to buy a house
