Party serves up cash boost

THERE was an early festive boost for the students and staff at Buckie Community High School’s special education department when they were handed over £7000. For the sixth year in a row Suzanne and Derek Clark hosted a Mad Hatter’s tea party at their Shearer Avenue home in Buckie. The event,which attracted around 120 people, helped raised a total of £7207. Other fundraising activity, such as a bonus ball run via social media and various items, including shopping bags and key rings, made by the couple’s son Jody, a former student at the department, further boosted the takings from the tea party. Mrs Clark told the Advertiser: “We’re very proud to have raised this sum. “Once again people have been very supportive, both in coming along to the tea party and supporting our social media fundraisers and we’re very grateful to everyone who came along, or helped in some way. “I think the key to the event’s success is the fact it’s benefiting a local cause.
“It’s amazing to think we’ve been doing this for six years now and raised over £32,600.” PT special education department Sharon Aitken paid tribute to the Clarks and their stalwart efforts, going on to outline the difference the cash has made to students over the years. “We’re looking at spending this year’s cheque on loads of maths and
language resources for the pupils,” she continued. “The money Suzanne and Derek have raised over the years has allowed us to do so many things we simply wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. “We’ve been able to do things like outdoor learning and were able to buy the materials to decorate our float in this year’s Buckie Christmas Kracker.”