Fun day for villagers 'who lost everything' in fire
A row of five cottages were destroyed during a fire which saw 16 crews sent to Bardwell in Suffolk on Saturday, 19 April.
The community has since raised £26,000 for the residents who were left homeless, with a fun day taking place this Saturday at the Dun Cow pub to generate more funds.
"There's something for all ages, and it's really to help them get some normality back in their lives," said David Ruffles, chairman of Bardwell Parish Council.
"These families pretty much lost everything and some of them walked away from this with just the clothes they were wearing.
"There's things that money can't buy and they have got to rebuild their houses, so it is very likely they will never recover or get back to the financial position they were in."
The event, which is running from 13:00 BST until late, will include live music, dancing, a barbecue, raffle, tractor rides, disco, and "much more".
There will be an auction offering "no end of assortment of prizes" donated by other residents and businesses, including theatre tickets and a helicopter ride.
A live online auction is also ongoing, giving bidders the chance to win two tickets for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Since the fire destroyed the roofs and first floors of the homes, thousands has been raised, something Mr Ruffles said had "taken my breath away".
"The generosity, love and warmth the community has given these poor people has just been overwhelming and I don't think anyone can believe it," he said.
"Being in a village that cares has been a small comfort [to the fire victims] because they will never get back to where they were."
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Thatched cottages fire 'feels like a dream'
People left homeless after thatched cottage fires
Village rallies behind homeless families after fire
More than £20,500 raised for village fire victims
Bardwell Parish Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue
10 minutes ago
- Vogue
Joni! Jamie! Cara! Topshop's Runway Show Returns To Take London's Trafalgar Square
It wasn't until look 17 that I spied her—although I wasn't totally sure. The last time might have been in a regional nightclub in the mid aughts, or weaving through a busy high street. But here she was, ensconced in a faux fur dalmatian print scarf, walking with purpose through London's Trafalgar Square. Was it Joni, or was it Jamie? Well, whichever of the denim demigods that once defined many a British millennial wardrobe it was, she marked a key tenet in the big comeback parade of Topshop (and Topman). The once beloved British retail giant made its big return on a muggy August Saturday, its first runway show in seven years. Photo: Dave Benett The catwalk show featured both Topshop and Topman designs for fall winter 2025, on a cast of new and some unsigned models scouted by Wilhelmina Models London in an open casting call. With the National Portrait Gallery as its backdrop and the iconic Topshop doubledecker bus in the fore, most pieces shown were 'see now, buy now' with others from a forthcoming drop on which launched a day previous. The show soundtrack started with Doechii's 'Anxiety' and Beyoncé, as well as the city's own Skepta and SAULT. The Topshop looks included several pieces from Cara Delevingne's edit, like a pea green faux fur maxi coat and a borg patchwork coat, and a pleated, oversized gray suit. There was a suite of denim, from the aforementioned high-rise, skinny-fit Jamie and Joni jeans—the tides have truly been turning again toward the slimmer denim silhouette they once defined—and an embellished utility jumpsuit. There were kooky combos of Prada-esque pillbox hats, Ferragamo-style sculptural heels, and Valentino's jewel-toned palette in the form of faux leather bomber jackets and skirt suits, while a red moto jacket over a long-trained, red sequin gown gave elevated indie sleaze. There were polka tights beneath an arpeggiated hem polka dot skirt, dalmatian and cow prints, colors of aubergine, chocolate, and inky navy. For Topman, grandad knits—some styled in novel ways, with a sweater wrapped around a model's head like a Keinemusik gig crowd for fall—and barrel jeans. Formalwear and outerwear were the focus with a few playful, youthful takes, like a bottle green faux fur bomber, a chocolate brown sheer shirt underneath a tailored suede jacket, and a tie knotted through the belt loops of a sharp suit. As well, embroidered jersey pieces and denim in shades of indigo, gray, and black. The models also carried doctor's bags with fluffy faux fur. Photo: Dave Bennet Photo: Dave Bennet Photo: Dave Bennet While Topshop was founded in Sheffield in 1964, its true zenith was in the last two decades, where it brought the trends of high fashion to the high street. A design collaboration with Kate Moss set the industry standard for what's now part and parcel of celebrity brand-dom, and partnerships with Christopher Kane and Meadham Kirchhoff will still set you back on eBay. At its peak, Topshop had 300 stores in the UK, 11 in the US, and 100 international franchises in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The London flagship on Oxford Street, with multiple levels, a vintage curation, beauty treatments, and a DJ, was an institution for anyone finding their style in the mid-aughts.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Festival organisers thank 'absolutely shattered' bar staff for record-breaking year
THE global price of pineapples could well have spiked as Northwich came together for its flagship annual festival. There were garlands, Hawaiian shirts, and novelty coconut spectacles as far as the eye could see in Apple Market Square, which was the beating heart of the 2025 Piña Colada Festival. Organised by Northwich BID, with help from Northwich Town Council, Barons Quay and Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, the festival was first established in 2021 after a local resident discovered Rupert Holmes, the man behind the iconic hit Escape (The Piña Colada Song) was born in Northwich in 1947. The family-friendly free festival was a Caribbean fusion of street performances, street food, live music, and of course, cocktails. This year saw the introduction of a giant urban beach at the top of Witton Street, alongside a surf simulator, free photobooth, and much more. Food and drink was provided across the town centre by Northwich's many bars, cafes, and restaurants, all of whom put on special events and stalls for the occasion. The main stage in Apple Market Square (Image: Karl Brooks Photography) This gave visitors the perfect opportunity to enjoy a bite to eat or refreshments while soaking up the unbroken sunshine. The Samba Parade returned on a grander scale than ever, increasing from 12 performers last year to an incredible 100. There was rhythm, colour, and unstoppable energy from butterfly performers and vibrant rainbow-dress dancers, which created a street spectacle to remember. BID's Adam Gerrard, who has played an integral role in running the festival since it started in 2021, said: 'The festival is genuinely the most amazing event for everyone there, but it is the bar staff who truly deserve the recognition for its success. 'Gosh, do they work hard. 'If you walk around the town centre at 10pm when the bars and pubs are generally closing and everyone has moved inside, go round the back to the service yards. 'You'll see them all sat on steps, heads in hands. They are shattered. 'All they've done is graft all day. They're the people who I think genuinely need to be recognised 'No one person makes this event what it is, but it's the staff in the businesses in town who I think genuinely should be celebrated. 'They're doing something incredibly positive for the town.' Lynn Riley, project manager at Northwich BID, said: 'Though it is over for anther year, we really want to keep people talking about it, sharing their best experiences, so we can provide a lot of positive feedback to the businesses. 'We also want to identify what people thought was their best experience, where they got the best cocktail, best food, things like that.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Prince William & Kate Middleton Are Eyeing a Home With a Dark Royal Legacy & They Reportedly Love It
In 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton hightailed it out of London for the cozier quarters of Adelaide Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The four-bedroom home was considered modest for a royal family because there was no room for household staff, but the Prince and Princess of Wales wanted it that way. Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, had their parents all to themselves without any outside influence. Now, the royal couple is reportedly ready to move to greener pastures, per The Mail on Sunday. More from SheKnows Nicole Kidman Is the Latest Hollywood Star To Embrace European Living With a Harry & Meghan Twist The U.K. media outlet is reporting that Kate and William are eyeing Fort Belvedere, a 'gothic-revival mansion nestled in a hidden corner of Windsor Great Park' with a very scandalous past. It was formerly the home of Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to marry his love, Wallis Simpson. (A story that sort of mirrors Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal story.) It seems that Kate and Charlotte are pushing for the move because the 59-acre estate features an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court — we know how much the mother and daughter adore Wimbledon! In addition to the A-list amenities, the grounds are stunning with numerous gardens, a greenhouse, stables for horses, two lakes, and cottages for staff members. 'They feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial,' a source told the media outlet, noting that the move is 'imminent' due to their growing needs. 'This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis.' The couple's move to Windsor in 2022 was definitely a pointed choice, and royal expert Ingrid Seward explained to The Sun that year why they made the move. 'I think Wills and Kate need space to bring up their children,' she shared. 'Kensington Palace is a glorious prison for kids — they want to be able to play football without being watched from behind the gates. I think Windsor will be perfect for them, as they will have lots of freedom and they can all be at school together.' The Wales' were able to spend valuable time with Queen Elizabeth II before her passing, and it was a sanctuary for Kate during her cancer journey. Kensington Palace would have been a paparazzi zoo if they had lived there during her health battle. William and Kate have continued to prioritize their family's needs over the years, and with the kids growing up, it sounds like they are ready for a little more space to move around. From a four-bedroom cottage to an eight-bedroom mansion, the Prince and Princess of Wales might be leveling up their real estate of SheKnows All the Best Fashion Moments from Lindsay Lohan's Acting Comeback 50+ Fantastic TV Shows You Should Be Watching Right Now The Hogans, The Osbournes & More Famous Familes Whose Feuds Played Out in Public Solve the daily Crossword
