For the third year running we were pleased to accept an invitation to play at Les Ray and Deirdre Murphy’s sponsored Red Velvet Music Marathon. Les and Deirdre are committed fund raisers for cancer charities and, being musicians and well connected through the local folk communities in Cambridgeshire and beyond, have for the past three years organised a 24-hour music session at The Golden Hind pub on Milton Road in Cambridge.
Having already raised over £9,000 for cancer and hospice charities in 2013 and 2104, their aim this year was to raise another £6,000 and push that grand total up to £15,000. The focus for this year’s charity was the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, based in Cambridge.
This year was a twin venue event. We were performing on Saturday evening at The Golden Hind, which some may recognise as the home of the Cambridge Folk Club but there was also a lot going on at CB2 restaurant Cafe, on Norfolk St in Cambridge.
As in previous years, it was a lively evening at The Golden Hind. We arrived in time to see some excellent sessions by The Brokedown Palace, Penni McLaren-Walker & Bryan Causton and west country duo Heartwave. We then did a half hour slot, again taking the opportunity to bed some of our new material in, and we were then able to stay to see our friend, Laura Cherry, perform a lovely her set with her new playing partner.
Supportive to the end, a number of our friends from the Cambridge Folk Club were there helping the evening along and it was great to catch up with their news. It is pleasing to report that they enjoyed our set since, by a coincidence of the diary, we were booked to return to the folk club proper the following Friday to support Phil Beer.
At time of writing, we haven’t yet heard whether Les and Deirdre made their £6,000 target but speaking to them after the event they remained very optimistic of doing so. We wish them well in doing so and were pleased to be able to give support to them and the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.