George Osborne MP paid his annual visit to the charity Christmas card shop on Saturday, 10th November, to give support to the charities and the volunteers who make it all happen.
For the 12th consecutive year the Chancellor visited the pop-up shop, which is run by Wilmslow resident Sheila Hallas MBE and a team of volunteers.
Sheila Hallas said "George was in good form on Saturday and it was very good to see him. He was relaxed and met everyone in the shop, talking to the volunteers and including them in the photos. He thought the trays of Wilmslow and Knutsford (which are exclusive to us), were excellent; he bought both and also the Alderley Edge mug, (also exclusive). They are all taken from the Ordinance Survey maps, and so show much of the area - and his Constituency.
"We much appreciate his visit, which gives all of us a great boost."
George Osborne commented "Sheila Hallas and her volunteers at Wilmslow do a fantastic job every year, raising money for national and local charities. The card shop at Wilmslow Library has been a feature of our Christmas every year and I like to visit and show my support."
Sheila started the charity shop in 1971 and since then they have raised over £4 million for the participating charities. This year's pop-up shop is open at Wilmslow library until Saturday 7th December selling cards, gifts, paper, toys and stocking fillers.
Sheila added "The 6th Shop opens today in Hale Library; then all are up and running. We are getting a good response from the public I am glad to say, they like the fact that charities get 100% returned from their sales, and that we are unique in this, also none of us are paid."
For further information or to purchase charity Christmas cards online visit www.Christmas-cards.org.uk.
Photos: George Osborne with Sheila Hallas, volunteers and shoppers. Sheila and George discuss limited edition Knutsford and Wilmslow trays, part of a range including mugs and coasters commissioned by Sheila for the shop.
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A range of gifts and stocking fillers will also be on sale. Profits from the sale of gifts and stocking fillers go towards covering the costs that the enterprise incurs. All the organisers and workers give their time on a voluntary basis, but there are costs such as rental of the library space, insurances, publicity, use of card readers etc which need to be covered.