If you stumbled across Laughing Stock whilst ambling along a river walk this summer, you could be mistaken for thinking you had been transported back into the 1960s. Eye catching flares and flower garlands set the tone for a fantastic day of live music and festivities in the sunshine.
Raising funds for Woking Hospice since 2015, Laughing Stock is a fabulous event hosted by Shepperton’s Linda and Jon Jag-ger. This year’s event raised almost £24,000 for the hospice making the total funds raised so far through Laughing Stock, an amazing £114,000. The £24,000 raised this year equates to 1263 hours of nursing care at the Hospice.
“We are so grateful for the continued support the Laughing Stock Team have provided to the Hospice” commented Phil Wormley, Director of Fundraising Woking & Sam Beare Hospice. “The money they have raised is just incredible.”
Described as a mini-Glastonbury, crowds were treated to the sounds of local bands such as Daft, The Phil Brown Jazz Swingtet, The JJ Band, Luke Edney, Grooveline, The All Beats and Red Rocket. There were a number of walkabout acts too and a host of stalls, art activities, on-site caterers, a licensed bar and the Laughing Stock silent disco that was introduced this year and was a resounding success featuring top local DJs.
Linda and Jon Jagger shared, “We were again overwhelmed by the turnout. Many of our ‘hippies’ have been attending since we start-ed so for that reason, we endeavor to up our game each year and add a little extra some-thing. It could not happen without the amaz-ing Laughing Stock team, helpers and local businesses who very generously donate priz-es for the raffle”.
Laughing Stock is a great opportunity for local businesses to reach a local audience and it is wonderful to see such support for this fabulous event. Linda and Jon would like to thank everyone involved as well as prize donators including Foxhill’s Country Club and Resort, the RFU, Surrey Rugby, Advanced Skin and Beauty, Pearmain Pubs, Q Apartments in London, West Ham FC, Arsenal FC, Silent Pool Gin, Leo Bancroft, Saks Salon, Oxford Brewery, Gordon Ram-sey Academy, Dorking brewery, Ben Forest hair, James the Butcher, Quality Fruit Shepperton and Simon from Ultra Ice, who supplies copious amounts of ice free of charge every year. The full list of prize do-nators for Laughing Stock 2023 can be found until the beginning of 2024 at www.laughing-stock.co.uk.
“Not only did everyone have a fabulous time,” continued Linda, “but much needed funds were raised for the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice who looked after my wonderful dad, Arthur, at home when he became very ill – he really could not have received better care. This is why the Hospice is now my chosen charity. We should all be able to access this level of care at the point of need and the Woking and Sam Beare Hospice go beyond all expectations in their approach and sensitive delivery”.