Selfless Malcolm works hard to put on new family festival in Gosport

People from across Gosport took to Walpole Park, off Walpole Road, on Saturday to enjoy the town’s latest festival offering.

Organiser Malcolm Dent is this week’s We Can Do It T-shirt winner for his hard work in putting on the event.

The 12-hour bonanza, called Walpole Park Music Madness and Family Fun Day, was the town’s first festival in two years.

As well as featuring a host of stalls, charities and a funfair, the event also helped to showcase 10 of the area’s best local bands.

The day was staged to support Gosport Mayor Councillor Lynn Hook’s year-long fundraising appeal for three charities based in the town.

Malcolm had been asked by Cllr Hook to start the event following on from the success of his annual dog shows in the park.

He was overwhelmed by the support for the day – which he said would become an annual event.

He says: ‘We only had a month to set this all up and I’m thrilled at how it’s all gone.

‘It’s lovely to see something for Gosport.

‘There aren’t enough things in the town for the community to take part in.

‘Gosport has always had a festival, it’s a festival town. But for the past two years there’s been nothing.

‘So this is just a fresh start for Gosport’s festival scene. It will definitely become an annual thing.’