Visitors to the Hands Fair on the 29th May could be forgiven for thinking that a bit of Kew Gardens had been transplanted on Twickenham Green.

The boxes and pots of flowers, shrubs, and vegetables were in fact the work of the Twickenham Upon Thames Rotary Club.

For many months Club Members had patiently planted and tended the young plants in their homes to be ready for this day. Their produce has become widely known to a growing band of dedicated local customers who attend the fair each year.  

This annual event, which started in 1981, is a non profit endeavour by the Hands Care Group, who provide voluntary support to those in need in Twickenham and St Margarets, especially the older, frail, isolated and housebound.

Stall holder fees just cover the expenses. Over 70 charities and voluntary organisations were present this year and commercial stalls were not allowed.

Twickenham Upon Thames Rotarians had also spent a busy year collecting the second hand books which featured in its book stall situated next to the plant stall. 

All the effort was again made worthwhile by the generosity of your readers and local residents who purchased £1,704 of plants and £186 of books during the day. The monies collected will help the Rotary Club with its work in supporting the community and local good causes.  

The Club would like to thank the Hands Care Group for all their efforts in organising this Fair, and to those local nurseries who also added to the stock of plants that the Club sold so successfully.

If any reader would like to assist Hands Care Group it is based at Twickenham Library and can be contacted on 020 8891 3346 or by email at  handscaregroup@btconnect.com

The Rotary Club of Twickenham Upon Thames meets each Tuesday evening at the Strawberry Hill Golf Club. If your readers are interested in what we do and would like to be a part of this band of brothers (and sisters) then our website is www.tutrotary.org or a telephone call away with Rotarian Dion Scherer on 020 8240 3427.
 

Article supplied by David Gregory