CHEADLE’S market place was dedicated to the Fairtrade movement this weekend as part of ongoing events to mark Fairtrade Fortnight.
On Saturday, March 2, there was a Fairtrade and local produce market at Cheadle market in High Street, which saw various stalls offering a variety of Fairtrade goods.
Ann Thorley and Chris Thompson, both Traidcraft reps, had a stall selling Fairtrade food items and handmade and fancy goods.
Bev, the Manager of Cheadle Cooperative Food, displayed the various Fairtrade products sold by the Co-op, including their wide range of Fairtrade wines from Chile and South Africa, and offered samples of Co-op chocolate and biscuits as tasters.
A new Cheadle based venture, The Great British Cake Co. offered several different types of loaf cake.
Naz Asghar, of Tean, was selling her own intricate handmade jewellery, cards and fancy goods.
Students from Westwood College’s Enterprise Group were marketing copies of the Book of Recipes they had gathered and published.
A group of women from Gorsty Hill Methodist Church had baked a variety of cakes using Fairtrade ingredients and were selling them off quickly.
Sarah Rodgers and her student friends had made a mouth-watering display of cup cakes using Fairtrade ingredients, to raise funds for an educational visit to Swaziland next year.
Meanwhile, the Cheadle Fairtrade Group were providing Fairtrade refreshments in the Pugin Centre across the way from the Market.
Cheadle Town Mayor Councillor Margaret Locker officially opened the market at 9.15am and returned later to walk around and make some purchases (pictured above).
Bill Cash MP, a staunch supporter of the Fairtrade movement, visited the market during the day and met some of the stallholders.
The following day, Sunday, March 3, saw the Cheadle Fairtrade Group sponsoring the Cheadle 5 Fun Run at Cheadle Community Sports Centre.
There was also a Fairtrade cafe in the Pugin Centre in High Street and a Fairtrade stall at St Giles R C Church in Charles Street.
On Wednesday, March 13, there will be a Fairtrade stall and refreshments at the Cheadle U3A Coffee Morning in the Guild Hall in Tape Street from 10am until 12 noon.
Cheadle was granted Fairtrade Status in March 2011 and since then the town’s Fairtrade group has been actively promoting the initiative in the town with various events and activities.
Last year new signs were attached to each of the town’s entrance signs notifying people that Cheadle is a Fairtrade town - funded by Cheadle county councillor Mike Maryon through his Local Community Fund.
Other events held as part of Fairtrade fortnight include on Sunday, February 24, a Fairtrade stall pitched at Cheadle Methodist Church; last Wednesday, February 27, members of Cheadle’s Fairtrade group held a stall at St Giles’ Primary School open evening; and on Friday, March 1, a Fairtrade Coffee Morning took place at St Leonard’s Church in Ipstones.
