VE Day celebrations and Willow Wood fundraiser

Monday, 12 May 2025 13:20

Ray Fricker from Droylsden set up the Willow Wood fundraiser.

Ray has a collection of war memorabilia, he decided to set up a fundraiser for charity using his memorabilia to create a WW2 experience for the lucky winner.

Ray’s collection includes gas masks, an air raid siren, helmets, a variety of guns and maps as well as an original VE day flag.

For VE Day Ray set up a fundraiser for Willow Wood.

The winner of the fundraiser got a WW2 experience with Ray’s collection on Saturday 10^th May.

An armoured tank was in attendance, Ray set off some of his motors and machine guns, and he even let the air raid siren play out as part of the experience.

There was even a bugler performance in front of the tank adding to the war experience for the winner.

The winner of the fundraiser, Peter Yates, won a Bulgarian fireman helmet from Ray’s collection.

Peter told us how he didn’t expect to win: “I was just trying to help Ray hit his target of £500 by donating.”

So far Ray has raised over £700 for the charity, smashing his target of £500.

Ray told us why he decided to do the fundraiser for Willow Wood: “I know they need all the help they can get. I have a war room, I have a siren, I have a massive collection, and it’s just sat there doing nothing, so it was time it started making some money for charities.

“It won’t be the end of the war room this is only the beginning. I’d like to thank everybody once again for donating or sharing.”

Ray’s fundraiser is still open for donations at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/raymond-fricker-1736810497871?utm_medium=qrcode&utm_source=offline