Jessie, 10, plays drums with rock band at school festival

A CHARITY music festival almost doubled in size in its second year.

More than 400 people attended Checkfest, which raises money for Checkendon Primary School, compared with 230 last year.

The festival, held in the grounds of the primary school in Parkside, raised more than £10,500.

It featured local bands, Visible Evidence with Rev Canon Kevin Davies on drums, The Candies Unwrapped, featuring Siobhan Kroth on vocals and rhythm guitar and Ivor McGurk on keyboards, and five-piece rock band Mo’ Mojo.

DJ and parent Edward Arlott played music between their sets.

There was a range of food available, including tacos from Tacito, wood-fired pizzas from Sole Luna and hot dogs and loaded fries from Jez “The Bowler” Felwick.

A bar with beer donated by the SOX brewery in Wallingford was run by members of the school’s parents’ association.

Guests were encouraged to get their faces decorated with glitter and neon paint. Sarah Tunstill, who organised the event with fellow parent Emily Nobes, said: “It was brilliant and we had the support of a great team to put it on. I couldn’t be happier with how it went.

“Everyone really got behind it, partly because they knew about it from last year. That was the first year we did it and so many people asked us to do it again and said it was such a lovely event.”

Mrs Tunstill, whose younger daughter Jessie, 10, is in year six at the school and elder daughter Sophia, 13, is a former pupil, said: “It’s a cause that is very close to people’s hearts because the school is very treasured in the village.

“It’s a small school so it’s up against it financially and anything we can do to help it is great. Even so I didn’t dare believe we would raise that much.”

Her husband Simon played sax and keyboards for Mo’ Mojo and was joined by Jessie on the drums for the song Jump by the Pointer Sisters. Mr Tunstill said: “It is a difficult song to drum but Jessie nails it every time. We have had a few practices together and Martin, our usual drummer, is very nervous because he has been shown up every time.”

Guest Fred Mellor, 15, who lives in Checkendon, said: “I came because we came last year and my mum is friends with one of the singers. I think it has been the best festival yet.”

Lydia Wozniak was there with her friend Helen Rigley wearing festival bucket hats, glowsticks and sparkles.

She said: “There’s a great community spirit and it’s good fun for the children. It’s great that I can just walk home afterwards as well.”

School parent Sophy Rogers, who ran the glitter and face paint stall with the help of volunteers Jackie Lee and Corinne Wong, said: “The atmosphere is very nice and everyone is in a holiday mood. We had loads of little kids helping us out.”

Her son Fox, four, who is in reception year, enjoyed dancing to the music. Ms Rogers said: “He loved it. He was running around breakdancing and playing with the other children in the woods. They have all been really excited and have been talking about it at school.”

Melissa Woodthorpe, whose children Emma, 15, and Max, 17, are former pupils, said: “We have come back to support the school and do our best to help because schools need the funding.

“Our children had the best primary school experience. It was heaven sent and the best start in life.”

Alison Mitchell, who attended with her husband Nigel Dunstan, said: “It’s a great community event — very happy vibes.”

Mr Dunstan said: “The PTA really loves to support extracurricular activities and the things that the children need that enrich their school experience. The school is at the heart of the community.”

Mrs Tunstill thanked chairman of governors James Rawson and the sponsors including Davis Tate, Checkendon Equestrian Centre, The Oratory School, the Highwayman Inn, the Co-op, Byways Dental Practice, Ripcaster and Zelpha.