Following on from many members of the community asking if there was anywhere they could donate money to help keep this event going we set up a just giving page to help cover the initial costs of replacing the equipment we have had stolen and damaged whilst we are working with the Police & our insurance company.

As most members of the community know some members of the travelling community set up camp on King Georges Playing Fields in Thornton. On Wednesday night I received many calls from members of the community to advise that our equipment store on the field had been broken into. The police were contacted and did secure the hut for us. The site was cleared on Friday PM when we were finally able get into the hut again. When we got in the site was a disgrace, broken glass all over the place, and anything that had an ounce of metal on it has been taken - which for us is the bulk of our equipment. But this wasn't good enough in their effort to find anything of value they have just thrown things around the hut meaning things that haven't been stolen have been damaged and are no longer safe to use. Next year should have been our 125th Anniversary, something the committee had already started planning but I fear this will now no longer be possible.

Please see our statement below published on our Facebook Page - Thornton Cleveleys Gala

To say I am devastated at the site I have just witnessed would be an understatement.

Myself and two of the co

mmittee have just been down to our equipment store on King George's Playing Fields and we can confirm that the majority of our equipment has been taken. Some of these items are irreplaceable and were a part of the Galas 124 year history.

The committee worked tirelessly to be able to put this event back on after our two year absence due to COVID and now it feels like all that was for nothing. At this moment in time I don't know if we will be able to move forward with this event in future given just how much we have lost. It is so sad 124 years of history and we could be facing the possibility that June 12th was our last year.

The committee are going to regroup and see where we go from here working alongside Farrar from the fair who once again has offered nothing but support to keep this event going for the community.

Again I want to thank all members of the community who have contacted myself and other members of the committee to make us aware. We are very proud to be a part of this community.

Holly Moorhouse

Chairman