We Did It! Raising £10k For The National Brain Appeal
I know how much it will benefit patients ...
Posted by David Pibworth on 27/10/2021 @ 8:00AM
Thank you to everyone who bought tickets to see Milton Keynes Theatre of Comedy's stage adaptation of 'Ripping Yarns' at The Arches Theatre this summer. Through ticket sales and kind donations, we were able to reach our fundraising target of £5,000 for dementia charity, The National Brain Appeal ...
I am so proud that with your help we were able to give this life-changing amount of money to The National Brain Appeal!
Reaching this amazing total meant that we automatically entered the charity's match funding scheme, which saw our amount doubled to £10,000 by an incredibly generous anonymous donor.
"We would not have been able to raise this phenomenal amount without your help!"
The Arches Theatre and MKTOC were given kind permission by Michael Palin and Alison, the wife of the late Terry Jones both of Monty Python fame, to stage three tales from the comedy series.
Together we chose to raise valuable funds for The National Brain Appeal, because the brilliant Terry Jones sadly died last year from frontotemporal dementia, and David Pibworth (owner of The Arches) also lost his father to dementia. So, this is a charity close to all our hearts.
My wife Julie and I were lucky enough to attend an event at The National Brain Appeal in London on Monday (25th October) to present our fundraising cheque to Julia Lipton from the charity, Michael Palin and Alison Jones. It was a remarkable day!
I am so proud that with your help we were able to give this life-changing amount of money to this amazing charity. I know how much it will benefit patients and their quality of life.
We are forever grateful for your generosity.
Until next time ...
DAVID PIBWORTH
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David is the owner and Artistic Director of The Arches Theatre in Clifton Reynes near Milton Keynes. Productions are underneath some flood arches on the disused Midland railway line (Bedford to Northampton). It is equidistant from Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes. You bring your food, drink and chairs and enjoy the varied shows that are produced. This year - 2022 - there are 12 productions on throughout the season, from Shakespeare to Ripping Yarns plus a music weekend.
David has been involved in 'Light Ent' for many years, working with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson adapting the scripts of 'Steptoe and Son' and those of Tony Hancock to the stage. He has produced shows for Norman Wisdom (which makes him feel old), Al Murray, and Joe Pasquale amongst others, and also worked in the music business promoting and producing shows with Chas and Dave, Neil Inness, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and others of that ilk.
He is also the director of a film school for young people in his home town of Olney as well as supporting many local events.
He recently negotiated permission from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to stage a short run of 'Porridge' on stage which proved a success.
This year the annual charity performance at The Arches Theatre will be the last of 'Ripping Yarns' by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, with the profits being donated to The National Brain Appeal' for research into dementia as David's father and uncle died of it, as did Michael Palin's friend and writing partner Terry Jones. Last year they raised an astonishing £10,000 and are hoping to get somewhere close again with the support of audiences and sponsors.
David also has a stage hire company and his wife Julie runs a livery yard, so they are surrounded by horses, dogs, light entertainment and and a 17 year old daughter.
He plays in a comedy jazz band and collects strange props such as the Spitting Image puppets of Denis Thatcher and Alan Bennett, the child catchers bike from the stage show of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and various other 'things' all of which he sells to raise money for the Arches Theatre, although he always finds it hard to part from these props. However as the theatre receives no funding at all, he is always devising ways to keep it going! Sponsors are always welcome!
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