ORGANISERS behind a Barrow festival are gearing up for its triumphant return in a new location after a two-year hiatus.

The team behind Fudstock is making preparations for the festival’s long-anticipated return at Furness Cavaliers Football Club this weekend.

The festival started in 2018 to commemorate the life of Barrovian Richard Thorne AKA Fud.

Fudstock supports St Mary’s Hospice, the Ulverston-based charity that cared for Fud in the final weeks of his life and has raised more than £70,000 to this end over the years.

Fud’s sister and one of the festival’s directors, Joanne Firth, said organisers are expecting the usual numbers of a ‘couple of thousand’ this year.

The Mail: The Thorne siblings Lorraine, Phil, Jo and Richard (Fud) The Thorne siblings Lorraine, Phil, Jo and Richard (Fud) (Image: Submitted)

She said: “We’ve had nothing but support from the local area and neighbouring community.

“As organisers we’re very excited and proud to be relaunching Fudstock at a brand new site in partnership with Furness Cavaliers and BUMS (Barrow Underground Music Society).”

The event will host a number of local vendors including Webbers who are hosting a Man vs Webbers contest with two local contestants.

There will also be a hospice raffle on the day as well as a line up of local bands and artists covering two stages all in aid of St Mary’s Hospice.

Before the team began planning this year’s event they were adamant on gaining the consent and support of Chloe Austen and her family.

Chloe sustained life-threatening injuries after a fairground accident at the festival two years ago.

Chloe was in hospital for a total of 90 days and was treated by multiple surgical specialties.

 

More than £5,000 was raised in the days after a fundraiser was launched for Chloe to help with costs associated with her ongoing care.

Organisers confirmed there will not be any rides at this year’s event.

“Fudstock would not be going ahead without the consent and backing from Chloe and her family. We couldn’t have contemplated doing another event without their support,” said Joanne, who works at St Mary’s Hospice.

“They didn’t want us to cancel it and said they will be there. We have their 100 per cent support.”

Joanne said the focus of this year’s event will be Fud’s big dream of creating a festival in Barrow.

She said: “This year the focus is on going back to Fud’s big dream, displaying local bands, artists and different entertainment.”

The festival will be kicking off at 11am this Saturday (July 15). Paper tickets will still be available at Fat Bobs and Webber’s in Barrow until Friday.