Key Points
- Event Purpose: A local family fun day successfully raised £1,050 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), the designated charity of the Mayor of Havering for the current municipal year.
- Date and Venue: The charity gathering took place on September 20 at Lodge Farm Park.
- Organisers: The event was planned and run by Paul Middleton alongside volunteers from the Havering Miniature Railway Club.
- Revenue Sources: The funds were accumulated through the sale of admission tickets and voluntary financial contributions from local commercial traders.
- Notable Donor: Sean and Jackie, representing SW’s Wild Honey in Harold Hill, contributed 10 per cent of their daily proceeds to the charitable fund.
- Institutional Tradition: The volunteer-led railway club maintains an annual tradition of hosting fundraising events in support of whichever cause is chosen by the serving Mayor of Havering.
Romford (East London Times) September 28, 2026 — A family fun day organised by local community volunteers has successfully raised £1,050 to support the official charitable campaign of the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Maggie Themistocli. The event, held at Lodge Farm Park, saw local residents gather to participate in activities and support fundraising efforts designated for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). All generated funds were collected directly through event admission ticket sales and monetary donations provided by participating stallholders and trade vendors.
How Was the £1,050 Raised During the Lodge Farm Park Event?
The total sum of £1,050 was accumulated through a combination of public ticket purchases and targeted donations from private stallholders operating at the venue. The Havering Miniature Railway Club, led by Paul Middleton, managed the operational logistics of the gathering, relying on a dedicated team of volunteers to coordinate activities and manage entry points across the park.
Among the participating independent vendors, local business owners Sean and Jackie, who operate SW’s Wild Honey out of Harold Hill, committed 10 per cent of their total daily sales revenue directly to the mayoral charity appeal.
Commenting on the community response and the work of the organising team, Councillor Maggie Themistocli stated:
“This was a fantastic community effort, and I cannot thank everyone enough. Paul Middleton and the Havering Miniature Railway Club put an enormous amount of work into making this event happen year after year, supported by a wonderful team of volunteers.”
Expressing gratitude towards the commercial vendors who supported the initiative, Councillor Themistocli further noted:
“I was also incredibly touched by the generosity of the traders who came along to support the day. Sean and Jackie from SW’s Wild Honey in Harold Hill even donated 10 per cent of their profits from the day to CRY. Gestures like that show the real community spirit we have here in Havering.”
What Role Does the Havering Miniature Railway Club Play in Local Fundraising?
The host organisation, the Havering Miniature Railway Club, operates entirely through volunteer contributions and maintains an ongoing tradition of aligning its community events with civic fundraising projects. Each year, the group coordinates its annual charity day specifically to support the official cause selected by the sitting Mayor of Havering.
Highlighting the long-term nature of this partnership, Councillor Themistocli remarked on the leadership provided by the club’s key organiser, stating:
“Paul’s commitment, leadership and enthusiasm are exceptional. This isn’t a one-off event – it is part of a long-standing tradition of supporting Havering’s mayors and their chosen charities.”
Background of the Particular Development
The Mayor of Havering’s Charity Appeal is an established civic tradition within the London Borough of Havering, wherein the incumbent mayor selects one or more non-profit organisations to receive concentrated support and fundraising assistance throughout their term in office. For the current term, Councillor Maggie Themistocli selected Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
CRY is a UK-based charity founded in 1995 that works to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through community screening programmes, medical research, and emotional support services for affected families. The organisation relies heavily on voluntary donations and local fundraising initiatives to sustain its national screening infrastructure and support networks.
The Havering Miniature Railway Club has historically acted as a regular donor to the mayoral appeal. Operating out of Lodge Farm Park, the club provides miniature railway rides and public events, using its platform to partner with local government initiatives, community associations, and independent traders across the borough.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Community and Cardiac Risk in the Young
The successful collection of £1,050 for Cardiac Risk in the Young provides immediate financial capital that directly supports the charity’s operational capabilities. In practical terms, funding of this scale assists in subsidising cardiac screening equipment and diagnostic services offered to young people, potentially enabling early identification of previously undetected heart conditions within the region.
For the local community of Havering, the outcome reinforces the viability of public-private partnerships between volunteer clubs, municipal leaders, and small local businesses such as SW’s Wild Honey. The continued success of the annual charity day is likely to maintain high engagement levels for future mayoral appeals, securing a predictable source of community-driven revenue for regional causes while sustaining Lodge Farm Park as a focal point for civic gatherings.
