TIPTREE businesses, tradesmen and craft-sellers have the chance to showcase what they have to offer at a virtual Christmas fair.

The free event is taking place via Facebook at the weekend.

It is the brainchild of Sue Rayner and Alex Berriman and being organised in the run-up to Christmas, to provide a timely boost for Tiptree businesses.

Only those within a three mile radius of the village will be able to take part.

Mrs Rayner said: “We’re excited and really want to get the word out.

“The aim is to showcase what our village has to offer in the way of products, services and businesses.

“It will be totally free - a selling site where people can post adverts and even videos - and any donations we receive as part of the event will be donated to charity.

“It’s not a selling page but more for events to be listed. We can then help raise awareness of them.

“We’re trying to help small, independent businesses after the year they’ve had because of Covid.

Halstead Gazette:

Mission - Sue Rayner

“I’ve also contacted lots of service people - tradesmen like plumbers, handymen and gardeners - and they’ll also be included on the day because this is about our whole community.”

Mrs Rayner and husband, David, moved to Tiptree seven years ago, from Hornchurch.

The couple started their family and have a daughter, Skye.

Having previously worked in accountant offices for nearly 20 years, she is now a full-time mum with a passion for crafts.

“This year has been such a difficult one,” she said. “I started making dreamcatchers, mainly because my daughter had occasional nightmares.

“They helped her feel more confident about sleeping because they took the horrible dreams away.

“Under normal circumstances, I’d be off to craft fairs and markets but this year that’s been impossible.

“That’s what gave us the idea for the fair, because we want to promote small, independent businesses, help them at this time and support our community.”

Mrs Berriman has spent most of her life in the village and always been an active member of the community.

She is a founder of and artistic director of the charity KYDS Youth Drama Society.

“It’s great to be get involved with something that will hopefully showcase what Tiptree has to offer and hopefully bring a little Christmas cheer,” she said.

For more details, check the Totally Tiptree Facebook page.

Halstead Gazette:

Community-minded - Alex Berriman