It all began in November when Sue Madden said over “Bothy coffee” “what’s Lambeth Palace doing about Fair Trade Fortnight?” She only knew ‘cos she in on their mailing list and got previous notice. The basic answer was of course “nothing” - unless someone from LP decided to mastermind it.

At the same time I have always harboured a thought that perhaps we could have an Open Cottage 5 Day, so staff could see what the cottages are like inside, and have a change of venue for tea. This was the ideal chance - Open Cottage 5, promote Fair Trade and offer the whole day –

So we started planning.

Fair Trade eventually produced their various promotional materials which included posters galore, books about what could be bought in supermarkets, and wherever else, stickers, and a large long string of bunting leading the way to Cottage 5 should anyone get lost.

A few weeks before we made peanut butter cookies with as much Fair trade ingredients that we could find, stored them.

Sent emails around warning everyone of what was in store. Made arrangements with Janet Wells for a Fair Trade stall in our sitting room, then went shopping for more ingredients like coffee tea, sugar, and found a Fare Shares co-op in Elephant and Castle where we could get fairly traded veg. and pulses – things were taking shape.

What we offered were : Coffee and cookies a.m. Soup and Bread, lunch Tea and cake p.m. Boxes around for donations and suggestions as to amount listed.

The Fortnight began on Feb. 22nd, so on the Sunday before we went round the Palace and put up posters in strategic positions, without vandalising the “listed walls”, put booklets about it all in everyone’s pigeon hole and sent yet another email explaining it once again.

During this week most of the time went on making cake, bread and soup, planning furniture moving, negotiating for tables from Malcolm, etc.

By Thurs morning we reckoned we were ready for off, and we already had two great helpers in the shape of Linda, Malcolm’s wife who was very keen and one of the temp. Pas, who had just finished and is still job hunting.

First customers were Simon, Jayne and Poppy, and during the morning reps. from the cottages came, plus a gardener or two, and a volunteer. It was quite quiet and altho’ there had been much verbal enthusiasm from the staff, we were ( or I was) feeling quite disappointed, Needn’t have bothered.

Come 12.10. first customer for soup and Bread arrived and we had a steady stream of folk, sitting round the table, propping up the walls, surveying the stall, buying up fair trade marmalade (using fair trade sugar, and sevilles from our special co-op) and lots of fair trade goods. They kept us going until just after 2.00, we did have a slight lull while we too had some soup. There was time to keep up the washing up so we didn’t run out of bowls or spoons, or other vital implements.

Then at 3.00 gardeners came for tea, followed by librarians, and one or two from the Washhouse – used to Cottage 9 - by 4.00 normal tea time nearly everyone from the Palace came by, and cake – especially Linda’s star carrot cake disappeared rapidly. We closed soon after 4.30, and began to clear up, cash up, wash up and then put our feet up.

Grand total Stall took £175.36 ( £53.00 of that was marmalade)
Café took £153.00

By the way several people said they enjoyed the soup and bread so much plus the fellowship, etc. we should do it on a daily basis – replace the lunch club – or perhaps once a week, or even once a month!!!!!! Don’t worry we are not biting!!!!!

After evening prayer, we sat down, with our feet up and tried to work out which would be the best way round - have shower then make cheese on toast, or eat first then have a shower. The lengthy discussion meant we didn’t’ have to think of getting out of the chair for at least another 5 mins. It was a good day.

Photos taken by the press office.