Huge success of summer show helps good causes

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage spoke of her pride at being asked to present the grants to organisations as varied as Gosport Men’s Shed to Scout groups.

It was thanks to the huge success of the HMS Sultan Summer Show.

Ms Dinenage presented the funds alongside the Royal Navy establishment’s commanding officer Captain Peter Towell.

She said: ‘I was honoured to once again be invited by HMS Sultan to help Captain Towell award cheques to local charities at HMS Sultan’s charity cheque presentation.

‘It is one of my favourite events of the year.’

The show took place in June and visitors enjoyed watching monster trucks, motorcross and even sheepdog displays.

Ms Dinenage said events such as the summer show make Gosport a wonderful place to live, and added: ‘The show, as well as providing a wonderful day out for local families, serves an amazing charitable purpose – delivering vital funds to support local charitable organisations.

‘We need to celebrate how important HMS Sultan is to the local community and how lucky we are to have so many wonderful voluntary and charity groups in the Gosport constituency.’

Organisations which have benefited include Loud and Proud, Leesland School’s pool fund, Scout groups, Brune Park School and Gosport Men’s Shed.

Cpt Towell said: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to recognise so many good causes.

‘We are so grateful to the people of Gosport who came out in force to support the summer show.

‘To raise £25,000 over the course of a single weekend is a massive achievement for everyone.

‘Months of planning go into the summer show, but most of our personnel see it as giving up a small percentage of their time.

‘So many of the recipients here today put so much into promoting these good causes and it’s truly humbling to be able to be able to recognise their efforts.’