Come party! KeechFest celebrates 25 years of care

One of Luton’s most popular charities is throwing open its doors and inviting you to join the party and celebrate its 25th Birthday.

Live music and family entertainment will be rocking the beautiful gardens of Keech Hospice Care in Great Bramingham Lane, Luton as the charity’s KeechFest garden festival is back by popular demand on Sunday 11 September 2016.

Shirley Gadsden, Nurse Manager for the adult in-patient Unit has been caring for patients and their families at Keech Hospice Care for 20 years.

“Come along, celebrate and see inside your local hospice! Take a look around and enjoy the brilliant live music and family entertainment,” said Shirley.

Keeping the party going on the KeechFest live main stage will be Oasis tribute band, Definitely Could Be, as well as a worldwide successful tribute act to Tom Jones and other professional bands with music from the Eighties, Motown and the Rat Pack.

“I’m really looking forward to the very special 25th Birthday RAF flypast,” said Shirley. “They’ll also be copious amounts of children’s entertainment, a craft market and a bar and BBQ.

“I understand why some people might think hospices are scary places and the last place you’d party. I’ve been a nurse at Keech for many years and seen lots of changes, but the one thing which has stayed the same is that Keech Hospice Care is a hospice full of life and KeechFest will prove it,” Shirley said.

Keech Hospice Care first opened its doors in 1986 after the idea of a hospice for terminally ill adults in Bedfordshire was instigated by Dr. ‘Wink’ White, a local retired GP. Today, Keech Hospice Care supports around 500 adults in Luton and Bedfordshire and many children and their families living in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.

“Without the brilliant support of our community, twenty years on I wouldn’t still be able to provide the care I do for very sick people and their families at a time in their lives they need it most, “said Shirley. “I hope our community will come to KeechFest and celebrate what they have achieved on Sunday 11 September 2016 and be very proud.”

Due to the popularity of the event, tickets are limited and by admission only. KeechFest – The Birthday Bash runs from 11am to 4pm and tickets are available from Keech Hospice Care’s reception, or by calling 01582 492339, or online at www.keech.org.uk/keechfest. Adult tickets are £4 and children over five £2.50.

Please note, on the day Arriva buses will run a complimentary bus service leaving Barnfield College every 15 minutes and travelling to the hospice. You can park for free at the college and travel to Keech by bus. Disabled parking only is available at the hospice.

For further information contact Lorna Milton, Senior PR Officer at Keech Hospice Care on 01582 497874/ 07824606856 or at lmilton@keech.org.uk.