Record-breaking ‘mini Glastonbury’

A MUSIC festival held in aid of a village school drew its biggest crowd yet in its third year.

Five hundred people attended Checkfest, organised by the parent teacher association of Checkendon Primary School.

The event, which was held in the school grounds on Saturday, reached full capacity and managed to raise £12,000.

The money will help fund extracurricular activities and equipment for the school.

This brings the total the festival has raised since its first instalment in 2023 to £26,500.

It ran from 5pm until late and attractions included a range of bands and artists, including singer and guitarist, Hazel Louise and bands the Candy Thieves, Five Mile Radius and Mo Mojo, capped off with a set from DJ Edd Arlott.

Revellers dressed up in colourful outfits, with many opting for glittery face paint and flower crowns.

The festival had been organised by Sarah Tunstill, Emily Nobes, Sophy Rogers and Heidi Daniell, with the support of current and former parents from the school.

Sarah Tunstill said she was very grateful for the sunny weather but it had been a “sweaty day” setting up the festival.

She said: “I wouldn’t change it because everyone is having a nice time and because of the trees, everyone is in the shade now. It makes for a very balmy atmosphere.

“One of our biggest challenges is keeping up with ice and keeping our drinks cool, which is a nice challenge to have.” Ms Tunstill said the organisers had decided to open the festival an hour earlier to try and maintain its success.

Last year, the event raised £10,500 for the school. “The festival makes a massive impact on resources,” said Ms Tunstill. “The idea is that the parent teacher association money is not spent on things like teachers’ salaries but on things like books, iPads and school trips.”

Ms Tunstill, whose children Jessie, 11, and Sophia, 14, are former pupils at Checkendon, said she had a real “passion” for the primary school. She said: “I think it’s an absolutely brilliant school, so anything I can do to help it is good.”

Friends Issy Piercy, Jabe Pipe, Kat Piercy and Emily Willford attended the festival to support performer Hazel Louise.

The group, who are from different parts of the UK, had all previously met while travelling across New Zealand.

Issy said: “We met her on the Kiwi bus in Wellington in New Zealand in January. The music is so good and it’s nice to see Hazel live. We actually saw her perform in Abel Tasman in New Zealand.

“We did a massive 26-mile hike and finished it all sweaty watching Hazel perform. So it’s a full circle moment.”

Former parent Niki Orr, who is a cut flower grower, provided arrangements for the festival.

Ms Orr, who attended with friends Lorna Woolhouse and Peta Machin, provides sports coaching at the school

She said: “We live in the village and my kids all came to school here. It’s such a friendly place and it’s a great bit of community spirit.”

Jane and Michael Maggs came with their grandchildren Ezra Chubb, six, and brother Jonah, nine, from Benson.

Mrs Maggs said: “It’s a lovely day, very rural and lots of stalls, nice food and good music. They have made it very pretty.”

Vanda Biddle, from Caversham, came with her granddaughter Lark, to celebrate her fourth birthday. “It has been wonderful,” she said. “It’s very well organised and very comfortable.” Fred Mellor, 16, from Checkendon, said he had attended the festival every year. “It keeps getting better,” he said.

Niki Tanner, from Sonning Common, said she enjoyed the festival so much last year that she decided to come back.

She said: “I tried to get a group to come this year as it has such a lovely vibe. It was a bit colder last year but this year the weather is perfect.”

Sisters Tara and Eva Ealand, both seven, got their faces painted and played with glowsticks with their friend Florence Worsfold.

Eva said: “We came here last year and it’s so fun. It’s all glowing and loud.”

Tara said: “I like it because when it gets dark everything glows.” Florence added: “I like it because it’s fun and really busy.”

Mother and daughter, Becky and Jane Penney, travelled from Ipsden.

Becky, whose son George goes to Checkendon, said it was the first time she had been to Checkfest.

“It’s brilliant and a great idea,” she said. “It’s a mini-Glastonbury,” Jane added.