Charity venue to benefit Samaritans

During this period Roger and Val Denny have championed many church and charity functions giving pleasure to many while helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds. Their chosen objective is the Mission to Seafarers who recently honoured the couple with an invitation to a reception to meet Princess Anne.

Car boot sales have become their forte, held in the extensive gardens fronting Whitepark Road. There is sufficient space to hold many sellers while local farmers generously allow free parking in adjoining fields for those attending to barter and buy.

Disabled parking and facilities are available close to the house. The price for sellers is: cars - £6-00, vans and trailers - £12-00. Various charities find a stall here a great financial benefit.

The catering at these events is a bye-word in hospitality and quality. Roger has vast experience in preparing and serving roast beef and pork sandwiches and sauces that are in great demand by all those regulars who look forward to these special Saturdays.

Val, for her part, is a home baker extraordinaire. Her clients, many of whom travel long distances, always go home pleased with the variety of cakes, pies and pastries prepared for her table.

Tea, coffee and soft drinks with sandwiches and other refreshments can be enjoyed indoors in the ‘conservatory’, in the large marquee or in the gardens. A raffle rounds off the morning with a number of very acceptable prizes to be won, including meals in a local inn, bottles of spirits, etc.

A permanent display of clothing, bric-a-brac and household goods is located off the catering area, all to benefit the seafarers’ mission.

The number of sales has been reduced this year to three. The first two have already benefitted the Mission to Seafarers and the final one of this year is to be held on Saturday, July 30, from 9a.m. to 1pm.

This event will be in aid of the Coleraine and District Branch of the Samaritans, another cause that Roger and Val have ‘adopted’ over the past few years.