The recent news about its £5,000 lottery windfall has ensured that the final on August 9 will not be the last Okehampton hears from the Battle of the Bands. Richard Appleby said: ?This will keep us afloat for another year.? The event attracted lottery funding in its first year, but has since had to find other sources of income, surviving thanks to the generosity of the EX20 Lottery, Okehampton United Charities, the Rotary Club, Round Table, Lions Club and the town and borough councils. Richard said: ?The donations of audiences at the events have also been a big help. Anyone who has ever bought a t-shirt or even a pasty at one of the competitions has helped us to stay afloat.? Now he hopes to develop the competition even further with the help of the grant, and through the new instrument lending library which he has launched. ?It?s always been my ambition to turn the Battle of the Bands into a tourist attraction for Okehampton,? he said, ?If we can turn it into a festival that people come and stay here to see, then that has to be good for the town.? Tonight?s (Thursday?s) heat begins at 6.30pm in the Charter Hall.
