Retired licensee 'astonished' at pubs' charity support

A retired licensee who set up a fundraising event after his son died of cancer has praised pubs for continuing to back the cause.

After John and Maureen Birch's son Andy died in 1992, the pair, who were then licensees at the Dun Cow in Daventry, Northamptonshire, decided to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

John said: "Our eldest son died 16 years ago, he was 26 years old.

"We had been helped by Macmillan Cancer Support nurses and my wife and I decided we would fundraise for them."

With the bonus of magistrates granting extensions until midnight on Good Friday other pubs backed the cause and helped raise £9,000 in the first year.

Over the last 16 years pubs in Daventry have continued to put on a host of events on Good Friday and raised a running total that this year passed the £125,000 mark.

John, who now works as a licensing consultant, said the support highlights the great work pubs do for charity.

"This just shows that the pub customer is alive and well. Even in these difficult times, community pubs are raising huge amounts of money for charity.

"It has become part of Daventry folklore and I am astounded at the support it gets.

"Even when new tenants take over a pub they are told about Good Friday and they all get on board."

This year more than 30 pubs took part and put on a range of fundraising events including karaoke, fancy dress and selling hot cross buns.

John, who is also secretary of the Daventry Macmillan Cancer Support Group, said the money goes towards the £25,000 raised locally by the charity every year.