Charity

Festival raised thousands for Prospect Hospice

By Barrie Hudson - 31 October 2022

CharityArts and Culture

The presentation was attended by fundraisers and Prospect team members including, Alan Holmes (left), festival organising committee member Aaron Denley-Doswell (third from left), Prospect Head of Income Cheryl Crouch, holding guitar, Prospect Community and Events Co-ordinator Elaine Pickford (fourth from right), Anna Sprawson (third from right) and Cllr Neil Hopkins (second from right)

The My Dad's Bigger than Your Dad music festival in July raised more than £8,000 for Prospect Hospice.

A presentation at the Wroughton Hospice saw a cheque for a total of £11,127.82 handed over.
There was £8,393.82 from the festival, held in the Town Gardens, plus the proceeds other fundraising events including the Swindon Shuffle music extravaganza.
This was the second year of My Dad's Bigger than Your Dad Festival, which honours David Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar, who died in early June of last year at Prospect Hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.
The next festival will be held on Saturday, 22 July next year.
Dave's widow, Anna Sprawson, said: "It's another amazing amount of money raised by the amazing people of Swindon for Prospect Hospice.
"I can't thank Prospect Hospice enough for all the care they showed Dave, myself and our family at the worst period of our lives. We are eternally grateful."
Fundraising efforts included the raffling of a guitar clock created by Alan Holmes of Holmes Music in Faringdon Road. He brought another guitar to the presentation, bearing a plaque honouring Dave and a fellow Prospect patient, Lesley Mayhew, which is currently being raffled.
Tickets cost £1 at the shop, and the draw will be made toward the end of the year.
Prospect Head of Income Sheryl Crouch said of the festival: "How thrilled we were that these guys managed to do a second year of this brilliant community event!
"A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes, so it was just fab that they were able to make it happen in another year where it was quite difficult for people to support things."
Also among those at the presentation was Cllr Neil Hopkins of South Swindon Parish Council, which runs the Town Gardens, venue for the festival.
He said: "To raise such a substantial amount for such a worthwhile local charity, which does such amazing work in and around our community is terrific.
"We look forward to this being a regular feature of our events in the Town Gardens, and to continue to raise substantial sums for Prospect."

Further information about the work of the hospice can be found at www.prospect-hospice.net
Details of next year's festival are at www.mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk