What is the Crafty Craft Race?

The Newbury Crafty Craft Race began in 1974
A Carnival run by Newbury Round Table in the late 1950s featured a Raft Race, but when Laurie Birch ran the first event as we know it today, it was thought that the word 'raft' sounded a bit unsafe, so he christened it
'The Crafty Craft Race'.

Each year's event has a different theme.

2005 theme was Superheroes

2004 was both the year of the Olympics in Athens and the
50th Anniversary of the formation of Newbury and District Round Table, so the theme was obvious

Going for Gold! - The 2004 Kennet Games

In 2003 the theme was Movie Madness

The theme in 2002 was Cartoon Capers

2000 was Surf the Kennet

 

And 1999 was Carry On Up The Kennet

This year's theme is:

Animal

Antics !

As well as being perhaps the biggest entertainment event in Newbury's calendar and a great day out for the whole family, Crafty Craft is a charity fundraising event.

Money comes in from Event Sponsors, Race Entrants and the Victoria Park Fete and Fairground participants.

What do we do with all this money?

All of the money raised by Newbury Round Table through the Crafty Craft event goes to help local charities and to provide direct assistance to those in need.

For 2004, Crafty Craft raised money to provide extra equipment for the new West Berkshire Community Hospital.

In 2003 Crafty Craft raised £9,390 and this money has been helping numerous local charities and people in need throughout the year and in 2004, Newbury Round Table wants to raise funds for a single large project associated with the new community hospital.

In 2002 Crafty Craft raised £10,563 which was shared between 3 local youth related charities.

• Castlecroft - providing respite care for children with learning disabilities
• 14:21 Time to Talk - Youth counselling
• The Edge - Support and advice on drug and alcohol awareness to teenagers and parents

In 2001 we supported the Newbury Volunteer Bureau in their efforts to buy a new adaptable vehicle for loan to disabled individuals to transport them and their families. They are now able to borrow the vehicle to take themselves on holiday or day-trips.

The vehicle was adapted by Gowrings Mobility.
Newbury Round Table raised £12,500 to help the Newbury Volunteer Bureau with the purchase of the vehicle and they took delivery in mid-May 2001.

 Round Table has been active in Newbury for nearly 50 years
Members get involved in all kinds of fund raising activities throughout the year.