About us

How did the Petersfield Branch get started?

The Petersfield Branch of the Save the Children Fund, as it was originally known, was formed on 20^th March 1957 following a public meeting in the Town Hall at which Miss M.M. Ferguson, principal staff speaker of the organisation, gave a talk entitled ‘Children in Distress’ in which she highlighted the fine work being done in nursery schools and junior clubs in Great Britain as well as the contribution of British nurses working with Hungarian refugees in Austria.  Miss Ferguson stated the aim of the Save the Children Fund “to help any child in need regardless of race, colour, or creed.” These aims have not changed since 1919 when Eglantine Jebb and Dorothy Buxton founded the organisation. After thanking Miss Ferguson, Sir Algernon Willis, Admiral of the Fleet, proposed that a Petersfield Branch should be formed. This was seconded by Major General H.T. Tollemache, and a committee duly elected.

What happened next?

Just two months later on May 15^th a Save the Children Day was held locally when gifts of children’s clothing in good condition were collected and sent to needy children.

Subsequently, blankets were knitted, coffee mornings held, art exhibitions and a Punch and Judy show took place, and in 1959 a gift fair raised £570, which was a staggering amount at that time.

The Petersfield Branch blossomed and in 1963 a very successful clothing sale was held in a committee member’s sitting room. It grew and moved into St Mary’s Church Hall in Liss before moving in the mid ‘80’s to the Petersfield Festival Hall where Princess Anne, President of Save the Children, visited The Big Sale in 2013 on the 50^th anniversary of this incredibly popular event – which has become the Branch’s biggest annual fundraiser, achieving an astonishing £25,000 in 2019 which helped children locally, throughout the UK and worldwide before Covid struck. On its return in 2022 the Committee was delighted to hold The Big Sale in the beautiful setting of the Tithe Barn at Ditcham owing to the Festival Hall’s role as a vaccination centre.

Events have become more diverse in more recent years and have included a Grand Ball at Old Thorns Hotel and, the summer before Covid, a Teddy Bear Parachute Jump off St Peter’s church tower. This family event involved members of the local fire brigade launching the brave teddies, a picnic tea, and a visit from actor Hugh Bonneville, aka the dad in the Paddington films.

What did Petersfield Branch do during Covid?

An Online Auction was held in September 2020 in collaboration with valued supporter’s Nicholson’s Auction House, Fernhurst. Local people were invited to donate items of unwanted but good quality glass, porcelain and silver, Nicholson’s kindly waived their commission and all the proceeds went to Save the Children.

In December of the same year, Petersfield Branch brought cheer to local families with a socially distanced event on Petersfield Heath which included a magical walk across a twinkly bridge to see Santa and elves in their grotto. Festive music was provided by the local Salvation Army Band.

What has happened since Covid?

We have held Golf Days at Old Thorns in Liphook, another Auction at Nicholson’s, and Pop-Up Shops in Petersfield High Street selling pre-loved clothing and gifts. There have been Festive Concerts hosted by Churcher’s College also involving both Ditcham Park School and The Petersfield School where young people sang and made music to help raise awareness and vital funds for other children less fortunate than themselves.

It is astounding that for a small market town, we rate annually among the best performing and highest fund-raising branches in the UK.

Our volunteers help us because not only do we raise vital funds for Save the Children’s work but we also have fun as a group in doing so.

We are always open to new ideas and can provide help and staffing to our supporters who wish to fund-raise on our behalf.

Take a look at the book that was given to HRH Princess Anne celebrating the 50th anniversary of her being President and now Patron of Save the Children: