can we please thank all who supported our annual charity event BereFest 2012?

Despite all the damaging weather the previous night and the weather being unpredictable on the Saturday, BereFest 2012 went ahead on July 7 with a very typical festival atmosphere.

The rain stopped and the clouds cleared so everyone could enjoy the bands: Ice an a Slice, Tavy Tars, Commoners Muck, Orangutan Wheelbarrow, The Needletones, Black Cat Bone and Your New Favourite Band introducing a very up and coming local star, Georgia Rolls.

Crowds enjoyed stalls selling jewellery, clothes, taro reading and Help for Heroes merchandise as well as balloon modelling and face painting. Dancing was enjoyed, albeit in wellies, by the young and old alike!

During band changes in the twilight, people where entertained by the spectacular of Poiromania (Ian Massey) twirling his batons of fire.

The refreshment tent did a roaring trade with the tea and cakes, barbecue and bacon rolls, despite not being able to have the usual hog roast!

Campers also enjoyed the BereFest Big Breakfast on Sunday morning.

Berecom, who organise BereFest, were very humbled by all the local support that came to help repair and rearrange the arena on Saturday morning after losing all their gazebos and tents to the unseasonal weather. They would like to say a huge 'Thank you' to Gerald Venning, who, without his continued support with the loan of his field, BereFest could not continue, to Adam Smith for his compare duties and emergency help on the Saturday morning, Paul Wilmot for driving abilities and to Chris Allan for all the work he put in.

There are numerous other people who worked hard volunteering to cook on the day, provide cakes, and general offers of help. Each and every one is very much appreciated for the help they gave.

The money raised is still being counted. Once a final figure has been sorted the money will be divided into the peninsular groups that apply for it plus some will go to Help for Heroes, a charity close to the organisers hearts.

Julie Marks, Julie Overnell, Fran Luxton and Fern Hughes

BereFest organisers

THE Tavistock Friends of Cancer Research UK wish to thank Malcolm Hicks and all those people who supported him financially when he ran the Plymouth Half Marathon on June 3, raising over £836 for this charity.

I'm sure that the many people in the Tavistock area who have suffered from cancer and benefited from treatment, along with their families, will be grateful to him for his efforts.

Elizabeth Harding

Tavistock