Hundreds gathered for the return of a popular music and arts festival in Dorset that raises money for a local charity.

The eleventh Chesil Rocks music and arts festival took place with events on three days this year between Thursday, June 20 to Saturday, June 22 at the Higher Farmhouse at Langton Herring in support of Samaritans of Dorset.

Since organisers Tim and Hilary Warren set up the event in 2012, it has raised £108,000 for the Samaritans Dorset branch, which relies on donations to support their annual budget of £40,000. It is supported by a band of volunteers and local sponsors.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) Curated by Robert Hall, art donated by local artists adorned the marquee walls and was sold by silent auction, raising £940.

Bunting lent to the event by Derek and Hilary Troughton and the Portesham Volunteers adorned the site, together with quirky art sculptures from Martin Fielding.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) Festivities began on Thursday’s comedy night, compered by Tom Glover, featuring comedians James Ellis, Louise Leigh and the nationally known and Nathan Caton. All guests received a pizza from sponsor, Dorset Wood Fired Pizza.

On Friday, guests were treated to a prelude of classical music and opera, with some dressing for the occasion. They were treated to incidental magic from Chris Howatt, before a marquee performance from concert pianist, Duncan Honeybourne. Tenor John Hudson also gave a performance of operatic and lighter pieces. After that, guests were entertained at an auction ran by the charismatic auctioneer, Alexa Tilley.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) On the Saturday, the main Chesil Rocks event took place and featured fabulous guitar duo Trip Guitars, Evolution Dance Studio, a variety of music from The Venn, the Portesham Ukulele Band under the musical direction of Sam Brown, sea shanties from Dorset Wrecks, hip-hop from Chiman 101, funk from Vanilla Radio, original music from Steve Wilson and the Innocent Bystanders, electronic dance music from Sarah de Warren, rock covers from Balance of Power, the London Gay Men's Chorus, songwriter Chris Davies,  and then a spectacular finale from the fire eating Inferno Sisters.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) To complete the event, there was a DJ set from Max Neilson-Howes who ‘had attended every Chesil Rocks event since the age of 7’ – and he was joined by fellow DJ, Sarah de Warren, on a few tracks. 

Hilary Warren, said: “Following our event this year, we are confident of being able to give the Dorset branch of Samaritans a significant proportion of their annual budget, enabling them to worry less about fundraising over the coming year and to focus more on what they do best.”

Tim Warren added, “We would like to convey our sincere thanks to all those who volunteered to help stage the event this year and make it such a success, and to our sponsors RiskStop Group Ltd, Symonds & Sampson, MN Walker and 3SC Scaffolding Group, farmer Robert Mayo, Dorset Wood Fired Pizza and our mystery sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous – but we know who you are.”

“Our children's area, managed by Mary Cooper, looked fantastic and attracted heaps of praise and we must thank Howleys Toymaster and Frank Herring and Sons for their part in this."

Hilary added: “Our site manager Adrian King was with us for three weeks and worked incredibly hard and we could not have staged the event without his dedication, skills and experience.”

Treasurer Martin Pearson will announce the amount the festival was able to pass on to Samaritans this year soon.