Summer Night of Music Under the Stars Raises Thousands for Childline

FORGET Glastonbury, Bolham had its music bonanza at the NSPCC’s Summer Night under the Stars on Saturday.

Nearly 300 people brought their own picnic hampers to the evening at Bolham House, and enjoyed the sunset as Culm Valley based folk group, The Lucy Lastic Band, played, and invited those wanting to dance on to the stage.

When the sun had set on and the stars came out, local band The Secret was out and performing classic rock covers from the past fifty years until 11.30pm. 

The NSPCC hope to rise over £2,500 during the night, and money raised will be donated to Childline to help them answer more calls and recruit councillors to talk to distressed children.

The evening’s weather was the best the event has had in its four year history.  In its first two years it poured with rain, but it was the high temperature during the day that caused a worry for organisers this year.

Community fundraising manager for the NSPCC, Donna Statham said: “This afternoon we were quite worried as it was so hot, and people may have just stay home and sit with their feet in a bucket of icy water, but people have come along to support the event and we’re really pleased.

 “It’s been a fantastic event. I don’t know how much money we’ve made but I think it’s going to be quite a lot. People have come in their droves and have been really generous in buying raffle tickets, bidding in the auction, buying our booze and having a go on the tombola.

“There’s a lot of work which goes into this event, and the fundraising team have put a lot of work into making it a great success.”

The Secret put their services for a night under the auction hammer and were sold for £425. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Andrew Humphries said: “We all believe that the NSPCC is a very worthy cause and we wanted to give a little bit more back and auctioning ourselves was something we were very prepared to do. It’s very generous of the person that bid for us to have us along on a spontaneous gesture like that.

“It’s always lovely to perform here, it’s such a beautiful setting, and the people that come along are so generous and dying for a party.”

Of those enjoying the party atmosphere were Bolham House B&B owners John and Caroline Hodkinson. John said: “We’ve got grounds here, so why not use them is what we think, and we work with the NSPCC and Marie Curie as well.

“Around six or seven people from the NSPCC committee will turn up in the morning with their partners to tidy up, and they do an excellent job.

“We’ll do it again next year, and we’ll all be hoping for excellent weather like this.”