What began as a small local music festival with fewer than 500 people has grown into one of Sussex’s most loved community events, welcoming more than 3,500 festival-goers each year.
Last weekend, the CBL Fastenings team was proud to sponsor the VIP Lounge at Chiddfest Music Festival, joining families, friends and music lovers for a fantastic weekend of live music, entertainment and community spirit.
CBL Fastenings Sales Director Alan and Company Director Colin attended with their families and saw first-hand just how much the festival has grown since its early days. With two stages, a VIP lounge, family zones and an impressive line-up of artists, Chiddfest has continued to evolve while keeping its community-focused values at the heart of the event.
For CBL Fastenings, supporting Chiddfest is about more than enjoying a great weekend. The festival proudly supports St Wilfrid’s Hospice, raising awareness and vital funds for the exceptional care it provides to local people and their families.
The connection between Chiddfest and St Wilfrid’s Hospice goes right back to the festival’s beginnings in 2014 – and, in fact, even further. Chiddfest organiser Mark Thomas has previously shared how his mother, Anne, became involved with fundraising for the proposed hospice in the early 1980s. As a farming family, the Thomases hosted a Caribbean-themed fundraising evening in their barn, raising more than £1,100 for the cause.
Anne continued to support St Wilfrid’s over the years, and the charity became one that the family was particularly committed to supporting. Tragically, when the Thomas family began planning the first Chiddfest in 2014, Mark’s father Bryan died while receiving care from St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
That personal connection has remained an important part of the festival’s story, with Chiddfest continuing to raise funds for and celebrate the work of St Wilfrid’s year after year.
From its humble beginnings, Chiddfest has become an event that brings the local community together to celebrate music, friendship and family, while supporting a cause that has touched the lives of so many people across Sussex.
CBL Fastenings was delighted to play a small part in this year’s event by sponsoring the VIP Lounge and supporting the team behind the festival.
“We’re incredibly proud to support Chiddfest and the work it does for the local community,” said the CBL Fastenings team. “It was fantastic to experience the festival first-hand and see the passion and dedication that goes into creating such a successful event. We’d like to congratulate everyone involved and thank them for making us feel so welcome.”
CBL Fastenings would like to congratulate the Chiddfest team on another hugely successful festival and thank everyone involved in making it such a memorable event.
As Chiddfest continues to grow, its commitment to community, music and St Wilfrid’s Hospice remains firmly at its heart – and CBL Fastenings is proud to be part of its story.
