WEDMORE Real Ale Festival celebrated another record year of fundraising on Saturday night, with the organisers donating £20,500 to local causes.
The impressive fundraising total marks the ale festival's largest-ever donation figure to date.
A total of 18 organisations received cheques at the festival's annual presentation evening at Wedmore Masonic Hall on Saturday, October 1.
The cheques were presented in front of 70 people, made up of the successful beneficiaries and festival volunteers.
They gathered to celebrate the success of the 21st Wedmore Real Ale Festival, which took place in the village on the weekend of September 9 to 11.
This year's fundraising figure brings the total amount of money the festival has raised for worthy causes to £246,820.
The beneficiaries for 2022 include Children's Hospice South West, Weston Hospicecare, Weston-super-Mare Samaritans, Somewhere House (Somerset) Limited, and Wedmore & Axbridge Community Health Fund.
James Turbitt, chairperson of Wedmore Real Ale Festival, said: “As with all previous years, we’re delighted that this year’s festival was such a success.
“We’re delight to be able to give away a record-breaking £20,500 this year.
“This has exceeded all our expectations as we had incurred huge increases in all our costs this year, then the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of the festival, left us unsure if we could or should open and, if we did, if anyone would turn up.
“Deciding on where and how much to donate is always a difficult decision and it never gets any easier with so many worthy causes in need of funds, but giving out the cheques makes all the hard work in running the festival more than worthwhile.
“None of this would not be possible without the huge commitment from our committee, the team of volunteers, our sponsors and everyone else who supports the festival in one way or another.
“So, they should also take the credit for what we have all achieved this year.”
Next year's Wedmore Real Ale Festival is due to be held between September 15 and 17.
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