Laughing Stock Festival 2023
The sun shone at Laughing Stock 2023 where over a thousand hippies soaked up the music and atmosphere whilst raising funds for the hospice. This year’s events raised nearly £24000 for the hospice making the total funds raised so far through Laughing Stock, an amazing £114,000.
This amount raised this year equates to 1263 hours of nursing care, or 52 days of inpatient care, or 9600 patient meal, or 858 hours of physio or 571 child counselling sessions.
A fabulous day was had by all. Organisers and hosts, Linda and Jon Jagger shared “Another sell-out Laughing Stock! We were again overwhelmed by the turnout. Many of our hippies have been attending since we started so for that reason, we endeavor to up our game each year and add a little extra something. It could not happen without the amazing Laughing Stock team, helpers and local businesses who very generously donate prizes for the raffle.
Laughing Stock is an annual riverside festival — a mini-Glastonbury where you can check out top local bands such as Daft, The Phil Brown Jazz Swingtet, The JJ Band, Luke Edney, Grooveline, The All Beats and Red Rocket. There were a number of walkabout acts too and a host of stalls, art activities, on-site caterers, a licensed bar and the Laughing Stock silent disco that was introduced this year and was a resounding success featuring top local DJs.
“Not only did everyone have a fabulous time, but much needed funds were raised for the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice who looked after my wonderful dad, Arthur, at home when he became very ill —he really could not have received better care. This is why the hospice is now my chosen charity,” said Linda Jagger. “We should all be able to access this level of care at the point of need and the Woking and Sam Beare hospice go beyond all expectations in their approach and sensitive delivery”.
The organisers would like to thank all of those who helped make the event a resounding success with particular mention to our MC, Graeme Nash, Tyrone Lawless for Security, Simon Minchin from Ultra Ice UK Ltd for all our ice suppliers, Chris Wilson and WLX Productions for sound, lighting and infrastructure, Ed Davies from Landscape Innovations, Holly Walker who helped run the bar, Mark Harris and the Harris Heavies for printing, lifting/set-up and take down assistance, Louise Blair and team from WSB for sourcing some of the amazing raffle prizes and volunteering on the day and selling a record number of raffle tickets!
“We are so grateful for the continued support the Laughing Stock Team have provided to the hospice” commented Phil Wormley, Director of Fundraising Woking & Sam Beare Hospice “The money they have raised is just incredible”.
Laughing Stock is a great opportunity for businesses to reach a local audience. We would like to thank all the generous supporters and prize donators including (Louise feel free to add any of your contacts here), Foxhills Country Club and Resort, the RFU, Surrey Rugby, Advanced Skin and Beauty, Pearmain Pubs, Q Apartments in London, West Ham FC, Arsenal FC and Simon from Ultra Ice, who supplies copious amounts of ice free of charge every year. The full list of prize donators can be found at www.laughing-stock.co.uk
The organisers of Laughing Stock would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, in particular, our generous hippy guests, who not only had a ‘hiptastic’ time, but also raised much needed funds for the hospice.
