Wimbledon Guild Village Fair Has Been Cancelled

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Bid to save popular event by uniting local organisations

The annual Wimbledon Guild Village Fair on Wimbledon Common - one of London's largest free events - has been cancelled for 2018.

It is understood the charity which runs the event, which attracts more than 35,000 people the weekend before Wimbledon fortnight, says it is no longer financially viable.

Wimbledon Guild's fund-raising event has involved a shopping village with more than 200 stalls, family entertainment and a popular dog show.

But former Labour Councillor Peter Walker, Chair of the William Morris House in Wimbledon, is now trying to save the "much-loved" event.

He is hoping local organisations will unite to rescue the fair for 2018.

Mr Walker said: "After many years of the fair being run successfully, a very low key announcement from the Wimbledon Guild was made. Their charity benefit from the event.  The announcement reveals that they have cancelled the Fair for 2018.

"Given the immense social, cultural and economic value to the Wimbledon area and Wimbledon Village in particular, I thought it important to alert as many local organisations. It would be useful to see, if we together as a community, can save this much loved event

"I write as someone who personally have enjoyed the Fair and as Chair of a local organisation that have from time to time run a stall at the Fair

"I cannot believe that those of us who live, work and socialise in Wimbledon will let this fair disappear. I am happy, if convenient to host a meeting of concerned organisations to discuss whether together we can rescue the Fair for summer 2018."

• Worple Road-based Wimbledon Guild works every day to improve the lives of people across Merton. The social welfare charity helps people in crisis, with talking therapy, grants, befriending and activities for older people.
  
  Services include counselling, Compass which helps people dealing with bereavement, and volunteer befrienders who visit older people in their own homes, providing a friendly face and some company. There are no reference to the Village Fair on its website.

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January 28, 2018