Pakenham Beer and Musical Festival raises £12,500 for St Nicholas Hospice Care

A beer and music festival has raised thousands of pounds for St Nicholas Hospice Care.

The Pakenham Beer and Musical Festival, which took place on May 25 raised £12,500.

Organised by Pakenham Social Club, this year’s festival was held in memory of a much-loved friend Julia Haxby who was supported by the hospice.

One of the organisers, John Speare, said: “We very sadly lost one of our much-loved friends and members last year, Julia Haxby, who was looked after by the hospice and we made it our mission to raise as much as we could in her memory.

“We could not have been blessed by a better day, considering the poor weather forecast, and people turned up in droves. Everybody had a brilliant time and embraced the cause by spending lots of their hard-earned cash all in aid of this brilliant charity.

“We truly could not have achieved this if it were not for the amazing help of the people of our brilliant village and surrounding community as well as the incredible generosity of our sponsors and advertisers. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts.

“See you all next year on Saturday, 24 May 2025.”

During the festival visitors were able to enjoy more than 20 casks of real ale from a selection of local breweries and five bands performed throughout the afternoon and evening appealing to all musical tastes.

To keep everyone well fed a collection of vendors also offered a good choice of delicious hot and cold food.

The funds raised will help support the work St Nic’s does across West Suffolk and Thetford to support people and their loved ones faced with dying, death and grief.

St Nicholas Hospice Care’s community fundraising manager, George Chilvers, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of those behind the Pakenham Beer and Music Festival.

The Pakenham Social Club did an amazing job organising the festival, and there was lots of support for the event on the day, and I am grateful to all of those who gave their time to the occasion. It was a brilliant day and it was wonderful that so many people came along.

“To have raised £12,500 really is fantastic and the funds will make such a difference to St Nic’s and will support the care we are able to provide for people facing dying, death and grief across the community.