22nd September 2009

Charity fundraising thrives at Hare & Hounds in Wardington

The Hare & Hounds may be a small community pub in the village of Wardington just outside Banbury - but its customers have big hearts. In the last 12 months customers at the Hook Norton pub have raised thousands of pounds for good causes. The latest effort raised more than £3,000 for Taking the Reins – a pioneering project, run by Circles Network, introducing equine facilitated learning to assist a wide range of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.

“We had a fantastic day,” said the pub’s landlady Carol Wixey. “Eight bands gave their services for free, and we had a raffle and an auction. Hare & Hound customers are wonderful people and days like this bring the village together.” Earlier this year the pub held the Ronnie Goswell Charity Day - raising several thousand pounds for the Katherine House Hospice.

A golf day was organised by Ronnie’s sons Nigel and Robert and customers and local businesses contributed prizes for a raffle, lucky dip and an auction. And last year two of the pub’s customers Tony Robb and Jamie Murray wanted to raise money for two charities – Muscular Sclerosis and Katharine House. So the pair agreed to a sponsored session with a local hairdresser and had their heads of hair and beards shorn off – raising more than £2,000.

Carol says she is not going to organise any more events this year, but she is not going to rest on her laurels. “I’m not sure what we will do next to raise money for charity, but given the spirit the residents of Wardington have shown we are bound to do something.”