A WHOPPING £100,000 donation was the hot topic on everybody’s lips at this year’s annual Lydney Church fete.

Chairman of the Clara Watts Trust, John Thurston said he would match the £2,700 raised from the event, held on Saturday, and promised a grant package of £100,000 towards the Parish Gift Appeal project.

The package includes £25,000 for the first phase, match funding on all community fundraising, and support for the lighting stage of the project.

St Mary’s Church needs £400,000 in total to carry out work to bring disabled and community facilities to the church.

Rev Sarah Fenby said: “John and his wife, Mary, opened the fete before announcing the very generous and timely award. The Clara Watts Trust endeavours to support the church in particular to assist with the provision and maintenance of the equipment.

“At St Mary’s people come to us for all sorts of events but our facilities constrain us significantly, and there is more we would like to do to include everybody.

“The money will support our project which will bring facilities for our disabled members such as toilets, a new sound system and conservation work to the walls and flooring – to name a few.

“With half the funds raised for the first phase we look forward to the challenge of seeing the second half raised. It’s looking hopeful we’ll receive the money we need by the end of the year. This package has certainly given us the momentum to achieve this goal.

“The fete as a whole was the best ever in terms of footfall, support from local businesses and groups including the Lydney Air Training Corps – who are this year’s champions of the tug o’ war competition.

“We had plenty to entertain everybody. At the end of the day we were giving away free ice-cream and drink. There was also a beautiful flower display organised by the Severnside Flower Club based on the theme ‘crazy hazy days of the summer’.

“We must thank everybody for their positive, ongoing, support of our town and community.”

•See this week;s Review for more photographs.