A POPULAR Upton-upon-Severn music event has come runner-up in this year’s UK Festival Awards.
WooFest returned to The Drum and Monkey pub for the third year running in July and raised more than £10,000 for St Richard’s Hospice.
The successful event was then shortlisted in the final six for the best small festival of 2017 in the national awards.
More than 450 festival goers enjoyed the family friendly event this year which featured bands and musicians across two stages.
The festival included a flypast from a Second World War Lancaster Bomber and a surprise appearance from the Red Arrows.
Siblings Luke and Ria Simons started the festival in memory of their late father, John Simons who was an engineer.
He was cared for at St Richard’s Hospice before he died in 2013, aged 66.
Luke and Ria organise and run the festival along with a committee of family and friends and 100 per cent of the proceeds are donated to the hospice as sponsors, volunteers, bands and technicians kindly provide their time and equipment for free.
Luke Simons said: “Thanks to all our supporters for getting us to the finals of the UK Festival Awards.
“We didn’t win but just being nominated was good enough to help us continue our work while keeping the ethos of Woo Fest alive.
“Every single penny we make goes to St Richard’s Hospice to support them in providing an amazing service to our community.
“The award recognition gives us another opportunity to celebrate what has become a great fundraising event while appreciating that we are just a tiny representation of why Woo Fest has become a success.”
Next year’s Woo Fest will take place on Saturday, July 7.
Alice Brunt, fund-raiser at St. Richard’s Hospice, added: “We are so delighted for Luke, Ria and the team: they work incredibly hard every year to make Woo Fest the successful, fun and friendly event that it is, and it’s wonderful to have it recognised nationally.
“Their support enables us to continue providing care at St Richard’s Hospice, and we are so grateful to every single person involved at every level. “
