Chloe Woods has been making these great bracelets to support and raise funds for the Big Bear Fest.  There is a huge selection of colours to choose from and they are available for a minimum donation of just £2.

They will be available on the evening of the Poker Night or you can order one direct from Chloe by visiting:  http://www.facebook.com/chloe.woods.355

A big thank you from all of us here at the Big Bear Fest.  Chloe, you are a star xxxxx

5 A Side Tourney

Date:  Sunday 29th July 2012 KO 2pm

Location:  Tabor High School, Panfield Lane Braintree Essex CM7 5XP

Format & Rules:

1. Minimum of 8 teams for tourney to commence.
2. Teams to wear BBF T Shirts (select colour when you put up your team)
3. £50 per team – Team manager to collect money and hand in.
4. Team name, colours, players and manager to be posted on event wall

Tourney Rules
1. Group stages followed by knockout
2. 7 minutes each half – 1 minute break to change ends
3. Rolling subs

To sign up a team or to just come and support visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/219706001483424/

2nd BBF Texas Hold Em Tourney

Date: 29th July 2012  KO: 6:pm

Location: O’Grady’s Irish Bar, Panfield Way, Braintree.

Current Champion: Jono Scott-Laws

Format & Rules:

No Limit Texas Hold’em.

£10 Entry (£5 donated to Big Bear fest). Unlimited re-buys for first 60 minutes. Prizes for top 4 places.

1st – 50% of total pot + Trophy.
2nd – 30%
3rd – 15%
4th – 5%

Last years winner took home £120.

Snacks will be provided on the night and the bar will be open until the tournament finishes.

You do not have to be a skilled player to join in, it will be good fun and everyone is welcome.

To sign up for this event then visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/369187223135415/

We look forward to seeing you

One Love

All at The Big Bear Fest xxxxx

We wish to thank everyone who helped us achieve what was a magical day in memory of our beautiful son Sam.   To have such a fantastic day and also raise £5,000 for Meningitis UK, in what a very difficult times for many people, is nothing but sensational.

The day could not have been better; over 600 people having a great time in the sunshine and in such beautiful surroundings.

However, despite the success of the day, we have been told that Hedingham Castle cannot hold the event again due to the severity of the report from Braintree District Council on the noise.

To our dismay four people complained (whoever they are they should be ashamed of themselves).  Not only have we lost our son but now we have lost what could have become our spiritual home.

The council set very stringent targets on noise with a limit of 56db(A), most outside concerts are well in excess of 75db(A) and some even hit 90db(A).  In fact the village had a fete on the same day which was audible at times!

Our readings showed an average of 55.16db(A) so we did very well in keeping to the strict limit imposed.

We did run over by 30 minutes due to technical faults and for that we apologise.  However, we did turn the sound down by 3db(A) and everybody left quietly and orderly.

It seems that over 600 people (many from the village) enjoying themselves in a safe manner and whilst raising money for a very important cause is immaterial because of the complaints received by four people…democracy at its best!

So the search begins for a new event location for Big Bear Fest 2012…it will happen because, we want it, you want it and Sam is behind us because he wants it!

One Love and many thanks

All at The Big Bear Fest xxxxx

She did a brilliant job and the pics are now available to buy on her website so take a sneaky peak and you might find one of yourself that you want to buy.  Sarah not only donated her time on the day but is going to process your prints with all profits going to the Big Bear Fest so please dig deep and get buying, it’s the perfect souvenir of a brilliant day!

To view the pictures and order your prints please visit Sarah’s website here Sarah Totham Photography

SPONSORS:

A very big thank you to you guys. Without your support we could not have even got started.

THANK YOU TO ALL  THOSE PEOPLE WHO PUT ON EVENTS TO RAISE MONEY:

It all started back with a football match organised by Martyn Horrocks, swiftly followed by the brave shaving of Simon Hollingsworth.  As the months to the festy ticked away more of you came forward with events from skydiving by Mitch Redman and Elvis! to 10 year old Daisy Newton riding her bike in ferocious winds!

Hannah Creed for opening up her beauty salon and providing the takings…a big thank you x

Kate Mynott & Charlie West for organising the Old Skool disco…big kisses xxx

Dan and Charlotte for donating your engagement prezzies to the cause…thank you kindly xx

Chris & Chloe Woods for organising a day at Sainburys collecting money and then the Poker night in the evening…thank you x.

Right up to the festival money was being raised, culminating in Sam’s nieces, nephew and their friends raising about £125  by selling their hand made hats and doing a lucky dip!  xxxx

THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED GREAT RAFFLE PRIZES:

You really pulled out all the stops and gave us a raffle that could have graced any event…fabulous, fabulous prizes

GRAHAM KNOTT x DANNY SHELDON x DV247 x THE PRODIGY x EQUILIBRIUM x COLDPLAY x JOHN DICKENSON x CHRIS WOODS x MEL DAZLEY x THE STEVEN GERRARD FOUNDATION X

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE & COMPANIES WHO HELPED STAGE THE DAY:

 This list is almost endless…

I will start with Hedingham Castle and their brilliant event management team, Jo Maher and Debbie Dyson. You were amazing xx

MRL Productions…guys you bossed it. The sound, lighting and video was all brilliant. x

Dave Webb and his merry men for providing the security…great job.

Sarah Totham Photography  xx(check back at the website to order your pictures)

John Dickenson and family, for giving up their time to help organise and advise us on what we would need.  the same can be said for my very good friend Dave Robinson (Dub Organisa). xx

All of the stewards from Rob Best and his boxers! (not his pants), Tommo, Max, Albie, Gail, (great job on the children’s area) Bob, Debbie, Wiggins, Denise and Jenny on the tickets (ably supported by my mum and Sam)…thank you big time. xxxx

St John’s Ambulance for the medical cover.  Once again you did a great job. x

The caterers and Pirate Pete…thank you x

Wendy Smallman and her husband Jeremy for running our stall…many thanks xxx

All of the people who gave up their time to help. People like Greta Munns relentlessly selling raffle tickets and BBF tickets, Wez for hounding down John Halls to part with his cash and realise his true vocation was a ticket tout!

My mum’s next door neighbour..pounding the streets to sell raffle tickets!..thank you xxx

My sister Diane and Tom for designing the logo..xxx

All of those people who helped set up on the day and especially those who helped clear up! xx

A big thank you also, to all those people who have put their hands in their pockets..xxx

And of course all of the bands…many many thanks for some great music including the late entry from Baz and the Tiny Salmons:) xxx

 Now we have probably forgotten someone and for that I apologise but last of all but certainly not least, we want to send out hugs, kisses and massive thank you’s to all of the people who attended.  You were the ones who made this possible. Your kindness, your consideration and your support has helped see us through these long dark days…and without you, none of this would have been possible.  It was mind blowing, and all for our special fella SAM XXXX

One Love

All at the Big Bear Fest xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The prizes are starting to be claimed:)  Yesterday Greta Munns picked up the vinyl donated by Rage Against The Machine and signed by Tom Morello (be worth a fortune Greta ) Today Paul Blud called round and picked up the signed guitar donated by Coldplay…congratulations Paul:)

Paul has just started to learn to play the guitar and he promised us an appearance on the Big Bear Fest 2012 stage with his rendition of The Jam’s, “That’s Entertainment”:) – That’s gotta be worth a few early bird tickets!

Well done to  Paul and Greta. xxxxx

08 September 2011

So far very few of the prizes have been claimed.  The Muse album, the Friendly Fires CD and the signed Steven Gerrard shirt have all been claimed:

“The Steven Gerrard shirt won by a very happy Liverpool fan”

The draw was made by Steve from the superb MRL Productions – so if you are one of the lucky winners I suggest you find him at next years Big Bear Fest and buy him a beer!!!

Winning Ticket Numbers

Bottle of Champagne:   Winning ticket 05552

£50 vouchers for Equilibrium Beauty Therapy: Winning ticket 00062

£50 vouchers for Equilibrium Beauty Therapy: Winning ticket 00212

Muse Drum sticks: Winning ticket  01237

Marshall Headphones & Amp: Winning ticket 00203

Signed Friendly Fires CD: Winning ticket 03314

Signed Steven Gerrard shirt:  Winning ticket 03340

Signed album Rage Against The Machine: Winning ticket 01306

Signed album Muse:  01521

Signed Prodigy AO poster and 3 promo CDs: Winning ticket 05433

3 diamonds: 03295

Signed PRS guitar and gig bag:  04994

Signed Coldplay guitar: 03873

We will endeavour to contact those who left numbers on their tickets.  For those who did not please contact within six months..otherwise it will go to next years:)

Well done to all you lucky people

One Love

all at The Big Bear Fest xxxxxxxx

It sadly has a parallel to my girlfriend Tara, who was
taken from us by the same disease on 4th January 2011 aged just 25. I
am also from Essex, so as I said the sad parallels have touched a nerve
with me.

I just wanted to send my condolences and think that the
effort you have gone to celebrate his life is truly inspiring and hope
the festival goes well and will continue to appear on the festival
calendar for years to come.

Here is a video I made for Tara last year
and posted shortly after she passed on YouTube which generated so much
following and comments that we were touched by how many people her
smile reached, I hope the festival brings you the same comfort. I will
try my upmost to attend and wish you all the best of luck.

Kind Regards Mike Briggs.

Our thoughts are very much with you Mike

Once back stage and hanging with the, “guys” he mentioned the Big Bear Fest and would they like to help?

Danny has got Muse to sign a 12″ Origin of Symmetry double LP (they’re about to commence the reading leeds 10 year anniversary of this album, so it is very fitting!).

If that wasn’t enough he also has another piece of vinyl they have signed that is a surprise and for Sam only!!!

However, he didn’t stop there!  To make up for not getting a photo he managed to also get  Tom Morello, guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, to sign a 12″ Battle of Los Angeles (Import) double vinyl LP…. Rare as rocking horse shit.

After all the stress of the last few days, Danny has brought a massive smile to our faces.  When I told him of the late closure of Towerlands he responded straight back with:

“In the film Waynes World 2… Jim Morrison says and I quote….. “If you book the bands then the people will come”.  In other words carry on and keep calm. I am sure this will not be too much of a set back.”

We can tell you now with all the fantastic support from guys like Danny and Sam’s friends  – there is NO WAY THE BIG BEAR FEST AINT HAPPENING!

Massive thanks Danny and can’t wait to hook up later this month for the full story!

One Love

All at the Big Bear Fest xxxx

The event takes place near  March in Cambridgeshire, so if your out that way look to the skies or even better pop along for encouragement.

Mitch Redman, Clive Impey and Nigel Steele will be climbing up to the clouds and then sky diving back to earth:).

The event was arranged by Mitch, the brother in law of Dane (Sam’s dad). Sam’s death was doubly shocking for Mitch as one of his brothers also lost their young child to meningitis.

So please give these three stars your support with some sponsorship for a great cause.

One Love

All at The Big Bear Fest xxxx