A local design engineer will be holding a White Elephant stall at the Ross Town Carnival on August 5th. The proceeds will be given to St Michael’s Hospice near Hereford.
Some time ago the designer discovered a photograph taken at the Ross Carnival in 1887 showing a white elephant on a rotary tricycle pulling a model of the Ross Market House. This inspired him to recreate the event to promote the stall and raise awareness for the St Michael’s Hospice which receives 90% of its funding from the local community.
The design engineer has already completed the trollies and is working on the elephant in a studio in Ross-on-Wye.
“White elephant” is also a term used to describe unwanted gifts or items. He explained that it is based on the legend of the King of Siam gifting rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, that they might be ruined by the animals’ upkeep costs.
He hopes that the White Elephant Stall at the Rope Walk on Carnival Day will be full of unwanted but good quality, as new items.
He told the Ross Gazette: “Every household in this town will have at least one item which would be suitable for the stall, so please give a little time and dig them out or if you are a local business I am selling advertising space on the Market House so give me a call and get your name on it.”
If you have something which you think could be sold to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice please give Mark a call 07856 879359 for more information. Or visit the Facebook page.