Gosport record fair returns to support mental health charity in Southsea

MORE than 100 music fans attended a popular record fair.
A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport.

Organiser Kieron Howes.

Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-4) A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport.

Organiser Kieron Howes.

Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-4)
A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport. Organiser Kieron Howes. Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-4)

Music-lovers went to Fallen Acorn Brewery, in Mumby Road, to browse the collections of eight different traders on Saturday.

The fair is the brainchild of Kieron Howes, who quit his office job three years ago – and is now living his dream in Gosport supporting a cause close to his heart.

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Kieron, who founded the fair in 2018 and owns the Slice of Vinyl record store, in High Street, Gosport, said ‘the healing power of music’ helped turn his life around after he quit his job due to declining mental health.

A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport. (l to r), 

Amber Strike and dad Ron.

Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-6) A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport. (l to r), 

Amber Strike and dad Ron.

Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-6)
A record fair has been held at The Fallen Acorn Brewing Company in Gosport. (l to r), Amber Strike and dad Ron. Picture Ian Hargreaves (290220-6)

He said: ‘I used to be a manager in an office and I hated it – I quit my job because of my mental health.

‘Without music and my family I wouldn’t be where I am now.

‘I have definitely got better as I have run the shop – and I run it so anyone can come in and have a chat.

‘Mental health can be hard to talk about – that’s why I support Tonic.’

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All the proceeds from the 50p entrance cost went to Tonic Music for Mental Health, a Southsea-based charity that uses music therapy and choir sessions to help people with a range of mental health issues.

Last year, more than 200 people attended the fair, raising £100 for the charity.

Jan Langan, a volunteer at Tonic, said the event was ‘brilliant’ for raising the profile of the charity.

She added: ‘Kieron is brilliant – he is behind us 100 per cent, and we have had quite a few people coming up to us to find out more.’

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Trader Steve White, who has been selling records for the last three years, said the event was ‘essential’ for keeping local record dealers in business.

He said: ‘For me, it’s essential – apart from here, the only other place to sell records is car boot sales, and they are not as lucrative.

‘It’s helping to keep the local scene alive.’

Kieron plans to hold the fair next year, but wants it to be a; bigger community event’.