A CHILDREN’s author’s stories about a toy rabbit have raised more than £800 for a community hub.
Margaret Bartlett has written three tales about her toy rabbit Trevor, relating his adventures in and around the village of Ipplepen.
She has sold some 1,000 copies of the books and has raised £828 for the Ipplepen Hub.
She said: ‘I’ve had an unbelievable response to the books. It’s just snowballed. They’ve sold as far afield as Canada and New Zealand. As they’re filled with photos of Ipplepen they’re popular with people who’ve moved away.’
Through his creator Margaret, Trevor sent the message: ‘Thank you to all who supported myself and mum in buying our books to help raise funds.’
The hub is situated in the Ipplepen Methodist Church. After two years of renovations and conversions, it reopened in September, and it’s the ideal place to pop in for a cuppa and a piece of cake, as well as light meals.
Maria Alsopp, a hub committee member, said: ‘Enormous thanks must go to Trevor – and Margaret – for raising so much money. That has gone towards the conversion and alterations. We now need more funds to modernise the old school rooms at the back of the church.
‘We might be based in a church but we are open to everyone. All are welcome.
‘We offer a safe and comfortable environment for people to come and spend time. There’s alway fresh cake and simple lunches. We don’t cater just to older people, we have toys for children and a library. On Mondays we hold craft-making sessions. It’s a knit and natter club where you can crochet, and even quilt. On Wednesdays have table top games and on Thursdays we have card-making.
‘The hub is open Tuesday to Thursday, 10am-4pm and other activities are being planned. For instance we are hoping to get the Hubba Club for youngsters up and running gain but we are crying out for volunteers. If anyone would like to help please call the hub on 01803 814100 or email [email protected].’
Copies of the book are available at the hub, and Margaret hinted there may be further adventures on the way.
If you’d like to see Trevor in the flesh – or should that be fur – Margaret added: ‘Trevor and I will be hopping along to the hub on occasions, we hope to see you there.’