Lock-in at Lacock grotto raises cash for families’ charity
Six of Wiltshire’s leading business and community figures, including the High Sheriff, were seized by elves and imprisoned in Santa’s grotto for charity at Lacock’s Whitehall Garden Centre, and forced to raise £250 bail from their contacts to secure their freedom.
Alan MacRae, Wiltshire Council portfolio holder for safeguarding, said: “I really enjoyed it actually. There was a seven-year-old boy Aidan who captured me in the car park and took me to the grotto, where we all had to stay.
“Every time we passed a big fundraising hurdle they would come round with treats, but it was an odd experience; I haven’t ever had to call somebody up before to say I have been captured by Santa and need money to be released.
“A lot of people were asking how much it would cost to keep me in there.
“The money is going to support Wiltshire Families First, which is a wonderful charity. It supports families over a six-month period, which is just that bit of help they need so they don’t have to go into care.”
Shelagh Hillier, fundraiser at Action for Children, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of the festive fundraisers who took part. Everyone got into the Christmas spirit and helped to raise vital funds that will help make a life-changing difference to the vulnerable children and young people that we work with.”
