Live music acts bring in more than £7,000
Revellers enjoyed the sun and raised funds for two worthy causes
than 1,000 people turned up to the Harper’s Recreation Ground in Ash on Saturday to dance, drink, mingle and party at the Ash Music festival.
More than £7,000 was raised from the volunteer-run event, which will go to the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham, as well as CRY, a charity which raises awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
Boosting the fundraising effort were a team of cyclists which had set off from Hull two days earlier and arrived at 1.30pm, clapped onto the stage by the crowd, which formed a guard of honour.
“It was an absolutely marvellous day,” said Mike Armitage, landlord of the Lion Brewery, which organised the festival. “It was a very special day, and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved, from the musicians to our stewards and staff. It was a very hardworking day.”
All the live acts, including The Serial Thrillers, The Large Portion, Asylum Affair and Lost Lady Luck, performed for free.
The festival is the centrepiece of a plethora of fundraising commitments and initiatives organised by Mr Armitage during the year.
Every January he hosts a grand dinner in the House of Commons, where the money raised over preceding months is presented to beneficiaries. As well as this year’s festival charities, the 75-year-old is also involved in animals, war benevolent and various other military charities.
“All the bands are already talking about next year,” he said, yesterday (Wednesday).
“But I think my wife and I will have a break for a few days now,” he added.