Home of Monkees star Davy Jones opens for the day

by Claire French

claire.french@thenews.co.uk

Published on the 02 December

THE daughter of The Monkees star Davy Jones has told how organising a Christmas fair gave her something constructive to do following the death of her father last year.

Annabel Jones, sister Jessica Cramer and mum Anita Pollinger opened their Droxford home to the public on Sunday for a second year following the success of their first event.

Davy died suddenly in February 2012 after having a heart attack.

Annabel told The News on Sunday: ‘I just wanted to get through the first Christmas and have something positive to concentrate on and work towards.

‘I just thought it was a nice idea, to get people together and fill the house up with lots of smiling faces. I think the best way to get through a sad, dark time is to let the light in.

‘Last year we had about 600 people turn up. There are some fans that come down – a few repeat offenders.’

Outside their home, the family had a number of retailers selling handmade jewellery, furniture, preserves and artwork. Various musicians also played sets.

Indoors, Santa’s Grotto was attended to by a family friend, with Annabel’s sister, Jess, standing in as Santa’s helper.

Anita Pollinger, Davy’s former wife, helped her daughters get the house ready and was on baking duty.

All money raised from the homemade cakes and sandwiches on offer will be donated to a charity close to the family’s heart.

‘Annabel got it all together and makes things happen. She did it last year to get her through the first Christmas since her dad died,’ said Anita.

‘We thought it would be a one-off but she has done it again. I think when people all get together with one accord and it is a positive accord, you can’t not love it, can you?

‘We don’t charge people to come in but we donate all the profits from the tearoom and collection box. Some will go to the Philippines disaster and some to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

‘Annabel is donating her profits to them through her dad’s charity, the Davy Jones Equine Memorial Fund.

‘I have been baking until two this morning, two the night before and I got up at six. I’ve made over 400 cakes. I have got to go back to the baking to make some more as we have run out of vanilla.’

via Home of Monkees star Davy Jones opens for the day – Portsmouth News.