Loving Arms Festival

Welcome to the Loving arms Festival

Saturday 20^th June 2020

Loving Arms Festival is music festival returning for its second year in the beautiful area of Milton-on-Stour located on the border of North Dorset and Wiltshire. The festival was created in loving memory of Anne Pester to raise ongoing vital funds for the SALISBURY HOSPICE CHARITY.

We have decided to go BIGGER & BETTER this year! That’s why we are EXCITED to say we are organising a FAMILY FUN DAY as well as the MUSIC FESTIVAL all in one day! The daytime will be filled with lots of family fun, games, stalls and entertainers and we will bring back the HOG ROAST & LIVE MUSIC to party the evening away.

THIS YEAR'S LINE UP

BIG BRASS SKA

big brass ska band Big Brass Ska is a new and exciting band which was formed in January 2016. Made up of 10 players from many different styles of music, rock and roll, punk, Ska and traditional Brass band, the musicians have joined together to form this new group.

Big Brass Ska was adopted as the bands new name mainly as a result of having a 4 piece brass section which gives an extra powerful level to achieve the Fantastic SKA sound. Brass SKA.

The most powerful SKA band in Dorset. Covers music from Bad Manners, Madness, Specials and much more...

Link

LOOSE CONNECTIONS

loose connections Fantastic long standing function party band who play covers from yesteryear right through to today.

Band members are; Jimmy - Bass guitar and Vocals, Scott - Lead guitar and vocals, Steve E - Drums, Steve - keyboards sound and light, Laura- lead female vocals, Phil -Dep Keyboards and Sound Michelle-dep lead female vocals. Link

MUSTANG SALLY

Mustang Sally are one of the most popular bands in the Dorset area today. Fronted by Georgie, a very familiar face on the music scene with years of experience in many successful bands. Link

SHONKY & THE KNUCKLEDRAGGERS

Shonky and the Knuckledraggers

Madcap acoustic (mostly) three piece, playing all genres and some you didn't even know existed.

You'll probably find them in the beer tent.

Check out their website Link.

RIFF n TIME

Local band based in Mere. Link

About

Anne’s Story

On the lead up to Christmas 2017, Anne and her husband Richard went on holiday to Iceland with friends, this was a place that Anne had wanted to visit for many years but never got around to it.

Anne broke up for Christmas from her work with Amway UK and prepared for what was to be unbeknown at the time her last Christmas. Anne decided we should have a big family day and as she always wanted a white Christmas, Anne purchased a snow machine, which was working as we all sat down for Christmas lunch at her son Steven’s house.

After the festive celebration’s Anne returned back to work on Monday 8^th January 2018, during this week she stayed away at Milton Keynes, which is where Amway’s head offices are located. Anne appeared normal to her work colleagues and friends although they did remark she was a little forgetful at times. Anne returned home on Thursday evening that week and Richard didn’t notice any change in her normal behaviour.

As the weekend progressed Richard noticed that Anne was getting very forgetful and this continued to worsen until Tuesday 16^th, her son Steven insisted she went to A&E where she had a CT scan which revealed what they thought was a brain tumour, at this point there was no need for major concern as most brain tumours can be successfully treated.

Anne was transferred to Southampton hospital on Wednesday the 17^th and on Thursday 18^th Anne had an MRI scan, her husband Richard was spoken to by the Neuro-oncology surgeon and was informed that Anne had a Glioblastoma tumour and because of the location that it was situated they were unable to operate.

As the tumour was extremely aggressive they offered some form of treatment but this would have put Anne through a lot of suffering only to extend her life by weeks or just days. So the family made a joint decision that it would be kinder to Anne not to put her through the treatment as there was to be no successful outcome.

We hoped to get Anne back to her home so she could spend what little time she had close to her family, but unfortunately by the Saturday she became unconscious and that option was no longer available.

Anne was transferred to Salisbury Hospice on Monday 22^nd January 2018 and was treated and looked after extremely well by the amazing staff there. Anne was put into a large room and a bed provided for Richard so he could stay by her side every night until the end.

Anne put up a terrific fight but unfortunately she lost her battle on 10^th February 2018 just over 3 weeks from the initial symptoms.

As Salisbury Hospice and staff were so brilliant and caring both toward Anne and family, we as a family would like to repay them in some small way by fund raising to help keep the high standards and this amazing service available to others.

Loving Arms Festival