HOST A ROAST, HOLT'S BIGGEST-EVER DINNER PARTY, WINS THROUGH

Host a Roast - a unique event created for Holt's St Katharine's Church earlier this year - has collected second prize in a national contest, run by Ecclesiastical Insurance to find the ‘Most Innovative Fundraising Campaign.' More than 100 churches from all over the country entered.

Against stiff competition from finalists as far away as Cornwall to Yorkshire, Sussex to Hertfordshire, the Holt team won through and were presented with their runners-up award - and ‘significant' cheque - at a special ceremony held at Windsor Castle recenlty.

The original idea for Host a Roast came from a conversation with celebrity chef Ross Burden. Like Topsy, it grew'd and grew'd until,by April 2007, we were running Holt's Biggest Ever Dinner Party with eleven hosts in ten houses, over 110 guests from all over the county, and a massive amount of local publicity.

But most importantly, we raised almost £5000 in just one evening for St Katharine's Church roof, as the final part of the ‘Raise the Roof' campaign.

All the parties were held on one night, using ingredients we had sourced from regional and national suppliers, including smoked salmon, local spring lamb, and all the wines. Behind it all was Ross, holding a Hosts' Master Class a week before, and on the day itself energetically encouraging the cooks. Visiting each house to offer advice and stirring pots, he also managed to attend every one of the dinners - with the help of a swift, and sober, driver.

We have a wealth of culinary talent in Holt. The individual menus created were rich and varied, ranging from the simple to the ambitious, using family recipes or much-loved cookbooks. In fact, they were so interesting that we felt they deserved to be seen by a wider audience.

Which is why the Host a Roast Recipe Book has just been published. Almost forty different dishes, in sections on Smoked Salmon canapés; Soups, Salads, Pastries and Pots; Ten ways with Lamb; and Just Desserts - including crumbles and pavlovas, chocolate pears and panna cottas - provides a host of ideas for cooks at all levels.

Priced £9.99, and signed by Ross Burden, the Host a Roast Recipe Books are on sale at Holt Superstore and Holt Post Office - or by post from F. Drysdale, 209 The Common, Holt, Trowbridge, Wilts BA14 6QN. (Please make cheques payable to: St Katharine's, adding £5 for post and packing). All proceeds will go to the St Katharine's Development Appeal.

It's a great Christmas stocking filler - and local souvenir.