Chesil Rocks Festival succeeds in eleventh year

The 11th Chesil Rocks Music and Arts Festival takes place this year at High Farm House, Langton Herring, over three days from Thursday 20 June to Saturday 22 June in support of the Samaritans of Dorset .

Since organizers Tim and Hilary Warren founded the event in 2012, it has raised £108,000 for the Dorset branch of Samaritans, which relies on donations to support its £40,000 annual budget . It is supported by a team of volunteers and local sponsors.

(Image credit: Graham Hunt Photography) Curated by Robert Hall, artwork donated by local artists decorated the tent walls and was sold through a silent auction, raising £940.

Bunting lent to the event by Derek and Hilary Troughton and Portesham Volunteers and a quirky design by Martin Fielding Art sculptures decorate the entire venue.

(Image credit: Graham Hunt Photography) The festivities begin with Thursday’s Comedy Night, hosted by Tom Glover and featuring comedians James Ellis, Louise Leigh and nationally renowned Nathan Nathan Caton also participated in the celebration. All guests received pizza from sponsor Dorset Wood Fired Pizza.

On Friday, guests listened to preludes to classical music and opera and dressed appropriately for the occasion. They were treated to an incidental magic show by Chris Howatt before concert pianist Duncan Honeybourne’s big performance. Tenor John Hudson also performed opera and light music pieces. Guests then attended an auction hosted by the charismatic auctioneer Alexa Tilley.

(Image credit: Graham Hunt Photography) On Saturday, Chesil Rocks hosted main events including fantastic guitar duo Trip Guitars, Evolution Dance Studio, various music by The Venn, Portesham Ukulele Band under the musical direction of Sam Brown, Sea shanties by Dorset Wrecks, hip hop music. , and then a great show that ends with the Hell Sisters being devoured from the fire.

(Image credit: Graham Hunt Photography) To round out the event there was DJing from Max Neilson-Howes – who has “been playing every event at Chesil Rocks since he was 7 years old” – and his fellow DJ Sarah de Warren also joined in on a few songs of production.

Hilary Warren said: “Following this year’s campaign, we are confident that we will be able to provide the Samaritans Dorset Chapter with a significant portion of their annual budget, allowing them to reduce their fundraising commitments for the coming year. worry and focus more on what they do best.

Tim Warren added: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to all those who volunteered to help run this year’s event and make it such a success, as well as our sponsors RiskStop Group Ltd, Symonds & Sampson, MN Walker and 3SC Scaffolding Group , farmer Robert Mayo, Dorset Wood Fired Pizza and a mystery sponsor who we wish to remain anonymous – but we know who you are.

“Our children’s area, run by Mary Cooper, looks fantastic and has won many accolades and we must thank Howleys Toymaster and Frank Herring and Sons for their contribution in this.”

Clinton added: “Our site manager Adrian King has been with us for three weeks and worked incredibly hard, and we wouldn’t have been able to host this event without his dedication, skill and experience.”

Treasurer Martin Pearson will soon announce the amount of money the festival will be able to pass on to Samaritans this year.