IN reply to the remarks of Roy Davies (Letters, June 7) about the Petticoat Lane Market on Spring Bank Holiday, organised by the Rotary Club of Darwen for charitable organisations to raise funds for their own cause.

These charities, mainly run by the people of Darwen for the people of Darwen, hire a stall for a small fee and, provided the items they sell are not dangerous toys or the like, we at Rotary do not feel it is part of our function to "sort through all the stuff" as Mr Davies puts it.

In fact, the event was quite successful. One stall alone raised £450 for the Macmillan Nurses and Rotary charities benefitted by about £750.

Last month, the Rotary Club gave £3,300 to 24 charities. We funded the education of a little boy in Sri Lanka and paid a year's pension to a Gurkha soldier's widow in Nepal's hill country. Life Education for Lancashire's children received £755, to cite just a few.

Many Rotarians gave much precious time organising Petticoat Lane, including giving up the bank holiday itself. Some dug deeply into their pockets. The donkey rides so many children enjoyed were heavily subsidised by one member and all of the many raffle prizes were donated by individual members. We are saddened that our efforts do not meet with approval by Mr Davies. We shall just have to try harder next year.

Perhaps Mr Davies would like a stall to show us how it should be done.

One last point - Rotary International has donated many thousands of pounds to the Kosovo Appeal. Cash not rubbish.

HAROLD SNAPE, Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, Darwen.

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