1992: Raised over £15,000
The Christmas Cracker national campaign focused on the problem of 3rd world exploitation through tea and coffee trading and launched a network of “Eat Less – Pay More” Restaurants and Crackerterias.
Rugbys first Crackerteria opened up on North Street opposite the Clock Tower (now Klick photo processing) and did a roaring trade.
Radio Cracker was back on air with a more powerful transmitter to get get better coverage.
1993: Raised over £13,000
Christmas Cracker focussed again on promoting “Aid and Trade” promoting the national chain of temporary Crackerteria. The total was 2nd highest in the UK (behind Ballymena, N Ireland).
Rugby’s Crackerteria set up in the former “Peppers” cafe on Sheep Street this year. The first “Cracker a la Carte” evening restaurant events were also launched for pre-booked groups wanting an excellent meal whilst supporting the project.
Cracker FM broadcast to Rugby from an upper floor of the cafe building.
1994: Raised over £9000
Nationally Christmas Cracker focussed on a project that encouraged the concept of “Trade and Aid”, by opening a national chain of “Really Useful Present Stores”. Aid is needed to deal with crisis in the developing world, but sustained and fair trade is need to help countries develop and support themselves.
The Crackerteria found last minute premises in the former Gas Show rooms on the High Street (now Hunts bookshop)
Cracker FM took a break in 1994, but Cracker acquired an exhibition trailer which was used in a chain of roadshows in Rugby town centre and schools.
Four editions of “The Cracker” newspaper were sold during December, with articles provided by young people from local schools and youth groups.
1995: Raised £5879.05
Christmas Cracker nationally launched a campaign where local groups produced their own newspaper. The focus was on child labour and how it is effectively modern day slavery.
There was no Crackerteria this year as premises could not be found.
Cracker FM found broadcast to Rugby on 107.8 FM from an upstairs bedroom in town!.
Four editions of “The Cracker” newspaper were sold during December, with articles provided by young people from local schools and youth groups.
1996: Raised £5595.16
Christmas Cracker linked up nationally with Sight Savers International to raise money and awareness of the problem of preventable blindness in the developing world.
There was no Crackerteria this year as premises could not be found.
Cracker FM found last minute premises in the town centre and broadcast to Rugby on 107.1 FM.
“The Cracker” newspaper was back on streets for a few weeks in December, produced in conjunction with pupils in local schools.
1997: Raised £7082.63
The national Christmas Cracker Project came to an end in 1998 and was effectively replaced by Oasis Trust’s national Big Take project. It aimed to raise awareness of the plight of millions of street kids.
The Crackerteria found premises at the bottom of North Street, although bright and cheerful it was not the most attractive premises we have used! Rugby’s new PM Andy King opened the cafe at the beginning of December.
Cracker FM was located above the cafe and broadcast to Rugby on 107.0 FM. Thanks to Martin R, the station had some really high quality adverts and promos this year.
The Big Take project also ran a video competition element again, and Rugby Christmas Cracker took first prize with our “Justice – not Just Us” video! The awards were presented by Cheri Blair at the National Museum of the Moving Image on London’s south Bank.
1998: Raised £7065.06
This was the second year of Oasis Trust’s national Big Take project. With a theme of “learn to live the project was highlighting how important education is to help young people in the developing world break free of their desparate situation. Go to the 1998 web site
“La Crackerteria” was back in the same premises as 1993 on Sheep Street, and served a more “continental” menu. It was prepared in less than a week, but was one of the more attactive Crackerterias. It was opened by the mayor at the beginning of November and stayed open a little into the new year.
Cracker FM had its regular slot shifted due to a trial commerical station operating in November. But Cracker FM, 106.8FM, was on air over the Christmas and New Year period and with a new logo.
The Big Take project had a video competition element again, and once again the Rugby Group won with our “Mission Impossible” video!
The awards were presented at Planet Hollywood in London and part of the prize was tea at Number 10 Downing Street with Cherie and Tony Blair a month later.
1999: Raised £3020.62
We took part in Oasis Trust’s national Big Take “Shout” project once again this year, though there was no video competition in 1999. “Shout” was high lighting the plight of millions of young people exploited by child labour around the world by means of petitions and poliical campaigning. The money raised was for Oasis Trust projects which helped young people escape from their poverty traps and exploitation. Go to the 1999 web site
The project culminated in a visit to London to meet International Development Secretary of State Claire Short. We were unable to find any premises in which to open a permanent Crackerteria, but managed to open briefly for two Saturdays in St Andrews Church Hall.
However, Cracker FM was back on air on 106.8FM – operating from a domestic dining room!
