THE DICKENS CHALET APPEAL

The Rochester and Chatham Branch of the Dickens Fellowship continues to raise money for the restoration of the Dickens Chalet. This account of their latest efforts, which appeared in 'Rochester People', reads: ROCHESTER AND CHATHAM DICKENS FELLOWSHIP MEMBERS, RECENTLY SPREAD THEIR WINGS IN EFFORTS TO RAISE THE £100,000 NEEDED TO RESTORE CHARLES DICKENS SWISS CHALET. INVITED TO COLLECT FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT THE CHRISTMAS FOOD FAYRE AT TRADING BOUNDARIES IN UCKFIELD, EAST SUSSEX. THE VICTORAIAN DRESSED MEMBERS PROVED A GREAT HIT WITH THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS AT THE EVENT. THEY WERE JOINED BY MR MARK DICKENS, GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF THE NOVELIST, AND HEAD OF THE DICKENS FAMILY.( SECOND FROM THE RIGHT OF PICTURE IN GLASSES). HE IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE DICKENS FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL. MEMBER DAVID HAWES SAID '' IT WAS A GREAT HONOUR FOR US HAVING MARK JOIN US, AND HELPED REVITALIZE US IN OUR EFFORTS TO SAVE THE SWISS CHALET,THE MOST ICONIC BUILDING IN BRITISH LITERATURE''. £100.00 WAS RAISED, AND  EVEN QUEEN VICTORIA, SEEN CENTRE,ALAS FELLOWSHIP MEMBER VICTORIA BIDDLECOMBE, SEEMED MILDLY AMUSED.

If you would like to donate to this appeal, please send donations to the Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship (Chalet Fund), 27 Amethyst Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME5 9TX..