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Countdown to closure of Sek Kong's Friday market
Purses at ready, ladies, for there are only four more weeks until the closure of Sek Kong's Friday market.
Administered by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the past 14 years, it is set to close on Friday August 30 and organisers are hoping to attract bumper crowds over the last four weeks.
"We're grateful to all the people - Garrison families, locals and even the tourists - for making the market such a success and as a way of saying 'thank you' and putting something back into the community we hope to raise as much money as possible for a local charity during the remaining weeks," said Flight Lieutenant, Paul Rice.
"RAF caterers will be manning refreshments stalls, selling everything from soft drinks to bacon sandwiches, and we'll have some guys touring the market dressed as Italian ice-cream sellers peddling their wares.
"All the money collected will be presented, at the last market, to the Home of Loving Faithfulness, at Dill's Corner, which cares for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
"so it would be great to see as many visitors as possible over the next four weeks."
The market, which covers the five-acre married quarters estate at the bottom of Route Twisk, began, in a rough and ready form, in 1979. RAF took formal control in 1982 since when there have been 200 licensed hawkers.
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"The flow of visitors over the three hours the market is open from 9 am to 12 noon each Friday - is constant and there's rarely a quiet period," said Flt Lt Rice.
"At any one time there are about 500 to 600 people and over the course of a morning that can amount to almost 2,000 visitors."
Organisers are expecting hundreds more bargain hunters as the countdown to the closure of the market begins and they hope visitors will make donations, no matter how big or small, to RAF's nominated charity.
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