Tribute festival at risk of cancellation

All the profits from My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad are donated to Prospect Hospice

A festival set up to pay tribute to a man who died of cancer is at risk of being cancelled due to low ticket sales.

My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad is due to return to Swindon, Wiltshire, on 26 July for the fifth year. The event, held in memory of former pub landlord Dave Young, raises money for Prospect Hospice, which supported him and his family.

Since it began, after Mr Young's death in 2021, the festival has raised more than £40,000 for the hospice, using all of its profits.

Aaron Denley-Doswell, one of the festival organisers, said: "It's very special to all of us and we want to push it on and keep going with this."

Following Mr Young's death, those who knew and loved him thought about how to pay tribute to him.

"The only thing we could think of was a music festival," Mr Denley-Doswell said.

Mr Young was a big music lover and had put on festivals and comedy nights

Speaking about Mr Young, Mr Denley-Doswell said: "He was a stalwart of the local music scene.

"He used to put on bands, festivals, comedy nights, loads of different things and he was also a massive promoter and helper of people in the music business."

Although the festival has drawn in many spectators in the past, organisers have sold fewer tickets this year.

Anna Sprawson-Young, Mr Young's widow, said: "We need the community's support more than ever.

"Every ticket sold helps secure this amazing event – not just for this year, but for the years to come.

"We've built something really special, and we don't want to lose it," she added.