A PUB in North Waltham this week presented a cheque for £3630 to military charity SSAFA, which it raised in a fundraising raffle.

The Fox holds annual fundraising events for various charities, supporting local causes such as the church and school, and in more recent years branching out to support other organisations, including the British Legion and Help For Heroes.

For the past three years, its main charity fundraiser has been in aid of SSAFA.

Owner Rob Mackenzie said: “My father was in the RAF and my mother was, at one stage, the President of SSAFA in Scotland. We decided that SSAFA in Basingstoke was in need of money and that we would support them.”

Last year, the fundraiser was centred around the Rugby World Cup, with a general sweep and bonus sweep based on who scored the last try of each match, brought together to make the final fundraising total.

“Our customers really are extremely generous, it’s fantastic,” said Rob, who has been at The Fox for 17 years.

“They support whatever we are doing for charity, and have done all the years we have been here.

“We are able to pick up never less than a couple of thousand pounds for the charities. It’s been quite amazing how much a little pub can raise.”

Local artist Vicki Storrie, a customer at the pub, works for the Rugby Football Union and also creates montages.

She donated one of the England Rugby team, and the captain Owen Farrell, for the fundraiser, which she presented to the winner Richie Grainger, a chef at the pub, on Wednesday night.

The money was sent to SSAFA shortly after the sweep and the original presentation event, planned for the end of the rugby season in March with captain Owen Farrell in attendance, had to be cancelled.

Rob says that he is delighted to have another montage created by Vicki, which will be the prize in the pub’s next fundraiser “when the rugby can get started again, whenever that may be!”

SSAFA works to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families are met in an appropriate and timely way.

A SSAFA spokesperson said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you for this generous donation – every penny will allow us to continue our vital work supporting the military community whenever they need us.

“These strange times have shown us all that the power of local community is truly alive still, and we are grateful for this act of kindness”.