Carols at Tattersals

ittle did Vernon Place and Margaret Minns realise when they arranged the first concert 35 years ago with local choirs how it would become an annual tradition. When they realised the demand for tickets Vernon admits to being terrified when Margaret just calmly said “we will just have to hire Tattersalls!”. 

In its first year the Carol Concert was the first local non-racing connected event to be held at Tattersalls. Vernon insists that the concert is and must be an event for our community bringing people together to celebrate Christmas. To emphasise the local nature of the event, despite many enquiries from choirs from further afield, only choirs from Newmarket and nearby villages are invited. The Town Band provides the centre piece to the music and has recently been joined with features by the Newmarket Academy Band. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations go to support local charities. 

Carols at Tattersalls has become a key part in the fund-raising events of the Rotary Club of Newmarket and tickets sell out quickly. Every year Tattersalls is packed with local people who not only enjoy the music but, also get a free mince pie on leaving, kindly donated by Waitrose. Girls from the local Guides association help sell programmes and collect money from the audience, and benefit from a donation for their efforts like the Town Band. Proceeds from Ticket Sales and Donations this year will go to Newmarket Voluntary Network which provides Community Dial-a-Ride Transport and a Befriending Service to people living alone.

This year Vernon Place, who has been a Rotarian for 35 years, and was Club President in the year 1995/96, will hand over the baton to Mrs Christine Shand, Maths teacher at Newmarket Academy and organist for the parish of Exning with Landwade.