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Saturday, August 7th saw the Boom area in Mellon Charles transformed into a social hive with car boot sellers, buyers and sand sculptors enjoying the sunshine (and the odd shower!) together. 

Aultbea Area Together, a group whose aim is primarily to enable events that provide fun and opportunities for the Aultbea Area community, saw the potential the Boom had for an open air event and worked hard to ensure the day ran smoothly for everyone attending. There was a very positive and happy atmosphere, with people of all ages welcoming the opportunity to once again meet with one another, catching up with neighbours and friends and meeting new ones! 

The event was free for sellers, buyers and sculptors alike, and was made possible with the assistance of the Community Council and by the M.O.D., who granted permission for the area to be used by the public. Funds made by the stallholders were kept by them, some raising money for their cause or organisation, others having a very welcome ‘clear out’ and earning a bit of extra pocket money!
Aultbea Area Together made enough petty cash from their own sales to cover costs for putting on the event.

Down on the beach below the event, sand sculptures by people of all ages provided another dimension to the day, with magnificent creations taking shape from 11am-2pm. Car Boot sellers had been asked to donate a prize for those taking part, and we would like to
acknowledge their generosity for the prizes they selected to donate. The ‘exhibition’ of sculptures entertained and enthralled those taking a break from the frenzied bargain hunting. The 3 ‘sculptors favourites’ were voted for, winning prizes donated by local businesses.



Aultbea Area Together would like to thank everybody who supported this enjoyable day by coming down to the Boom and smiling their way through the scattered showers, taking part with cheer and goodwill. The group was very impressed with the standard of the stalls and the complete lack of rubbish left behind in spite of it being a very busy day.

The group would also like to thank the following for their very valuable contributions to the day: Grant and Tom at the Boom Hatchery for the use of their facilities, Laide Shop for their great support, Aultbea Stores for their generous donations of water (and gateaux!), Lorna and Co from the Aultbea Community Hub for providing a tea and cake stall, Oran-na-Mara, Pool House Hotel and The Perfume Studio for their kind donations of prizes for the sand sculpture event, Beatrice, Fiona, Natalie, Jenny, Irene, Dougie and Annie for volunteering as stewards, Tom Lister for his offer of a generator, Elaine for her help in dismantling the tea tent and, of course, the clouds for being picturesque all day and waiting until 4pm before erupting into thunderous downpours!

Get in touch:contact@aultbea-area-together.org.uk