MUSICIANS raised the roof in memory of three remarkable fundraisers.

The Warm Festival in Dorchester Borough Gardens saw a weekend of festivities to celebrate the lives of three Dorchester residents who raised thousands of pounds for charity between them and bravely fought battles against cancer.

Despite torrential downpours, revellers still turned out to dance in the rain and raised more than £1,000.

Friday night celebrated the memory of Carol Milner, a district nurse from Broadmayne who died in January.

Her son Paddy took to the stage at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester with his band The Big Sounds to raise money.

Orange was the theme of the day on Saturday to remember Julian Slade, a Dorchester fundraiser who died at the age of 46 from myeloid leukaemia.

Known to his friends as ‘Jools’, he was the chairman of governors at Damers First School and also served as chairman of Dorchester Round Table.

Sunday saw a musical tribute to Dorchester musician Steve Charles, who died in June, aged 56, after fighting throat cancer.

Steve’s father Robert Charles said it had been a really good day.

He said: “There were quite a few people there and they were enjoying it.

“Steve would have been pleased with what people have done for him.

“To see how people appreciate all he did and how he did it. We had a good time and if the sun had been shining people would have crowded down there.”

Organiser Jack Daniels said the festival’s name may not have reflected the weather conditions but represented people’s spirits.

“Even though it was raining and wasn’t particularly warm, the people were warm.

“When we started on the Saturday there wasn’t a single person in the Borough Gardens and then at one point we had 300 people there.

“We had 100 people dancing together in the pouring rain and I thought ‘Glastonbury, eat your heart out’.

“I made it clear to everyone that it was about making the effort to show up for people who always made the effort to raise money for others, and people did show up.”

All proceeds from the weekend will be split between Sightsavers, Fortuneswell Ward at Dorset County Hospital, Steve Charles Help a Friend Fund and the Red and White appeal at Southampton General Hospital.

n catherine.bolado@ dorsetecho.co.uk