Backup Village Fete Marks Whilton Mill Debut With £50,000 Raised

On 9 July 2026, the Backup Village Fete made a successful switch to Whilton Mill Karting Circuit, where attendees helped raise £50,000 for Backup Tech, equalling last year’s record-breaking total.

The event was supported by sponsors 5 Star Cases, Autograph, Catalyst Finance, DBpixelhouse, d&b audiotechnik, IPS, PLASA, Nexo, The Technical Department and Unusual Rigging.

Alongside the expanded space for stalls, the programme retained crowd favourites such as the Flight Case Relay, the Bake Off and the Veg Off, all supervised by the tongue-in-cheek Parish Council. Among those serving on the council was TPi magazine editor and long-time Backup supporter Stewart Hume.

"I'm here at the Village Fete to judge the cake competition and be part of the Parish Council," he explained. "So many people put their heart and soul into this industry to put on events for everyone, but they’re not always able to access the support they need. Thankfully, Backup is there to help people when they fall down."

Team Purple triumphed in the Flight Case Relay on the National Circuit, collecting the trophy in front of a vocal crowd. The winning line-up comprised Sam North, Steve Tunnicliffe, Tom Berry, Nick Robinson, Ian Caballero, Sam Gallacher and Jack Flavel.

There was silverware across the field: 5 Star Cases scooped both Best Bake and Fete Game Champions; Team IPS were named Best Dress Fete Goers; Best Veg went to Robe’s David Catterall; and Creative Technology proved the sharpest shooters, earning the Top Guns accolade.

Racing on Whilton Mill's National Karting Circuit provided the day’s fiercest competition. TAIT topped the leaderboard to retain its overall title for a second consecutive year, while fastest lap honours went to Stanley Donaldson.

EM Acoustics’ Roger Harpum summed up the mood: "The Backup Village Fete is such a great way to connect. A lot of industry friends are here and I love seeing them, but of course, we’re here because we want to support the charity," he said. "Backup is something EM Acoustics has been involved with for years, but last year I got to see firsthand how it helped someone who was in an extremely difficult position. Whatever we can do to support, we will do, and that’s why we're here, contributing to the silent auction and doing whatever we can for this fantastic charity."

As Backup Ambassador, Follow-Me's Luke Edwards underlined the importance of awareness among freelancers. "It's really important for people to understand, especially as industry freelancers, that if you get ill, or you get hurt, there is a charity there for you that can help.

"It was another wonderful day, and we’re delighted that everyone embraced the new venue, huge thanks to everyone who came along," concluded Backup Chair, Lee Dennison. "I'm ever grateful to the companies and individuals who work tirelessly in the evenings and weekends, behind the scenes to make this day run smoothly, we simply couldn’t do it without them. Whether it’s access to mental health first aid training, providing a listening ear via the helpline, or delivering financial assistance when it is most needed, Backup is there for everyone in our industry and events like the Village Fete offer not just a chance to raise funds, they also raise awareness and give participants an opportunity to have some fun, too."

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