21/07/2026
Stofest 2026
Phew! What a scorcher of a weekend for STOFEST 2026 Hope everyone had a brilliant time?
The festival atmosphere was fantastic, family friendly from the babies to the golden oldies and a few pets too. Everyone enjoying themselves at our small Recreation Centre and Village Hall in this lovely part of Wiltshire.
Barney Lawrence and his wife Sam were responsible for suggesting the Stofest concept and it was enthusiastically embraced by the committee. Music (of course) and great to see old favourites and new singers too. BBQ, Bar, Barney’s Wheelbarrow(s), Car Park and Camping, Face Painting Tiger, Football Game, Ice Cream and Candy Floss, Stofest Merchandise, Raffle, Refreshments, Stalls,Toys and this year, the pulled pork rolls on Friday night.
It is unbelievable that we have topped last year’s income figure! We have some expenses still to come in but the headline figures are takings of £23,404.62 and current expenses of £8479.62.
Our Chairman Derek Blake has commented that - STOFEST 2026 is the most successful fundraising event in the 76 years of the village hall existence. We have a planned program of renovations and repairs to the village hall, some of which have already been completed; repainting the main hall and cladding the building both are looking great. Stofest income helps in part to pay for these works to ensure our village hall is fit for purpose for at least another 76 years!
Impossible to list all the volunteers but a huge THANK YOU to our hard working and dedicated committee and their families and friends. To everyone who helped on the two days and set up on Thursday and Friday and clear up Sunday. To Lesley and Tim Gibbs for their tireless help and for the delicious pulled pork. Anthony from Great Wishford who was out on both days at 8.00am (he hates litter) and Mick and Jan Cooney from South Newton who always walk up to the village hall early on Sunday morning. Also to the four teenagers who camped and popped into the village hall on Sunday morning for bin bags to help clear up. We are so lucky to have our unsung heroes. A shout out to The Forsaken Guardians MCC and their friends who joined us for the second year and managed the car parking over the weekend. They even managed to apprehend the car whose driver thought he could drive over the pavement and grass to avoid paying the £5 charge! And to the person who gave them an old £5 note. You could have taken it to the bank yourself!
Stofest Music Festival has grown every year and is the highlight event in our calendar. However, without more help and many more volunteers, even just for a few hours over the weekend we are struggling. Just an hour or two would give someone a break to join in the celebrations.
THANK YOU to our generous contributors who provided raffle prizes and to our Sponsors and Donors.
B&E Services Ltd, Barney and Sam Lawrence and all their workers, Align IT, Double H Nurseries Ltd, Charlie Blake at Evolved Health, Chessington World of Adventures, Fawcetts LLP, Goodmans Commercial Insurance Brokers, R. Moulding and Co, Pyramid Services, Rude Giant Brewery, Salisbury Playhouse, Signs in Motion, Webb (UK) Ltd and Wessex Internet.
Stofest 2027 is already booked for Friday 16th and Saturday 17th July 2027! Date for your diaries. See you next year!
Karen Barnes
On behalf of the Management Committee and Trustees
South Newton and Wishford Recreation Centre - Village Hall
