London Airport Collection for Children in Need 2016

Witney Rotarians take part in the Rotary Team collecting at London Heathrow Airport for the BBC Children In Need Appeal.

A total of over 300 Rotarians, working alongside volunteers from the Airport's own staff, staged a massive collection throughout the airport on Childen in Need day.

The Witney volunteers found themselves armed with collecting buckets in the Departure Lounge at Terminal 3 during the morning period.

The response from travellers was very encouraging, people from all corners of the world donated notes and loose change to the cause. Pounds, Euros, Dollars, Rand, Czech Koruna......it all found it's way into the collecting buckets. Indeed there seemed to be no limit to the variety of currency donated.

Many overseas visitors passing through the AIrport took the opportunity to ask about the Appeal and learn how the money would be used.

Highlights of the day included a number of travellers who stopped to donate "because we come from Witney and saw the name on your Yellow Tabbard, we felt we must give you our support!"

Probably best of all was the unkown English family flying out for a holiday who had carried three large heavy bags of coins to the Airport with their luggage, through Check-In and Security just to add the money to the Children In Need collection as they passed through.

A special thank you to them and to all the other travellers who generously contributed.

The amount raised? Initial indications point to at least £42,000!!! and still counting. The final figure will emerge a little later once all the foreign currency has been changed into Sterling. Watch this space.