Help is sought to aid charity

A pub landlord is appealing for help with the organisation of a weekend of charity events.

Mr Maurice Crookes (43) the licensee of the Grey Horse Inn, Low Street, Collingham, wants to involve the whole community in events planned for the August Bank Holiday weekend — August 22-25.

There are plans for a rock and pop concert at the pub on the Friday, a jazz and classical concert headlined by Andrew Hall the following day and a family fun day with barbecue on the Monday.

Mr Crookes said the mini-music festival would showcase local talent and cater for all kinds of musical tastes.

An It’s a Knockout tournament is planned at Collingham Cricket Club on the Monday.

Mr Crookes said half the money raised would go to Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark.

A quarter would be put in a trust fund for the unborn baby of Mr Chris Johnson (26) who was found unconscious at his home in Station Road, Collingham, in February and later died in hospital. His fiancee, Nicola Shaw, is expecting their first child next month.

The rest will be put in trust for Charlie and Georgia Shutler, the children of Marie Shutler (36) a former employee at the Grey Horse Inn who died from breast cancer in April last year.

Mr Crookes hoped the charity weekend could become an annual event, but he needed people to come forward with ideas and to help organise it.

Mr Crookes wants local businesses to offer sponsorship to help with costs such as publicity and ticket printing.

“It is not about the pub,” he said. “It is all about the community and building up community spirit.

“It is being held here because it is an easy venue, but I would like somewhere bigger and better in the future.”

Mr Crookes said he would like to set up a committee for the Newark area that would organise an annual weekend of fun events to raise money for charities.

Mr Crookes said the Collingham event already had the support of Everards Brewery and Dusty Hare, the former Leicester Tigers and England rugby player.

Mr Crookes was one of seven landlords who took part in the brewery’s Gold Cellar course which provides licensees with an in-depth knowledge of beer and the brewing process.

They devised and brewed a beer called Gaffer’s Gold, which is on sale at the Grey Horse Inn.