MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST
  • The complete Molly pick collection to buy
  • MOLLY & DONATION LINKS
  • OUR ANGEL BEARS
  • TAROT CARD DIP + GUITAR PICK GIFT BAG
  • SHOP: MOLLY SHIRTS
  • MEARFEST BABBLE
  • MEMORIES
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • SLOUGH 2011
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
  • EVENTS
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • PRESS
  • SAY HELLO
  • POETRY CORNER BY BRIAN MEAR
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MEARFEST

Brian Mear has been a paramedic within the Berkshire area for 30 years. Sadly, he lost his mother Sally Mear to cancer in 2010 and as a way to channel this grief, he set up Mearfest within weeks of her death. Named in honour of his mother, Brian wanted to celebrate her indomitable spirit by organising a rock music festival that would raise money for various cancer charities.

With no previous experience, Brian made the first wooden stage by hand and organised the whole event from his 2G Nokia 3310 to the cost of £34.20! The event sold out.  Luckily, soon after losing his mother, Brian met the love of his life Claire. Claire had previous experience working in the music industry so was able to work alongside Brian on three annual events. Since then they have hosted Mearfest raising funds for various hospice and cancer charities.

In their mid-forties they were surprised and delighted to be expecting their first child together. Unfortunately, in the thirty-ninth week of the pregnancy, tragedy struck. Molly Mear was born at 40 weeks sleeping on the 12th August 2013. She died two days before her due date.  This left the couple shattered by their grief and they drew even closer in their love and strength together. Six months after losing Molly they got married in April 2014. Two years later and stronger than ever, they decided to brave it by telling their heart-breaking story to the world in order to bring awareness to the possible causes of stillbirth and the emotional devastation this leaves behind.  

Mearfest was rebranded with a new focus and Molly’s handprint which has become their logo, it is all Brian and Claire have left of her,  keeping her spirit well and truly alive. It symbolically kept everyone's hearts beating to the rhythm of rock, neatly contained beneath Mearfest’s strong fabric and colourful hues, her small hand has been held close across the world. Mearfest specialises in new wave of British heavy metal music, which has brought many people near and far together. The rest they say is history. Molly’s memory along with the genre of NWOBHM has created something unexpected, yet remarkable, her memory has forged new friendships across the globe. This has also resulted in a surprising development as many others involved in the event, especially grieving fathers, came forward and shared their own experiences, some never having a chance before to express this kind of grief. It provides a positive platform where others can seek understanding and loving support, giving so much goodness, insight and awareness back into this crazy planet.

So far they have raised £6,000 The Willows support group stillbirth charity Berkshire.  £2194.00 for Royal Berkshire Hospital stillbirth unit. For Down Syndrome North East a total of £9,800, as Molly was a Down’s baby, giving to these guys makes us feel she is still here, they have also raised around £5,000 for other smaller charities. as of October 2019 Mearfest will now be supporting a small non profit charity called Our Angel Bears who make keepsake boxes and care packages for when anyone loses their baby suddenly, specialising in knitted outfits for the tiniest of babies born under 24 weeks. 

The future is looking bright with Mearfest growing year on year. They are being approached by amazing bands who have heard of this event and want to get involved.  Attendance is growing, with much needed funds for these charities increasing and Molly’s spirit continues to shine brightly.

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FACEBOOK US!

MEARFEST FUND RAISING FROM 2000-2019

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MEARFEST SUPPORTS
​Geno Printing Company ltd
The best guitar picks
​in the world!
 



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​MEARFEST SUPPORTS

INK CLAN NATION

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​mearfest south
supports
our angel bears

MEARFEST FAMILY

We wish to thank the following who have been vital in our quest to make our events exciting and professional. 

OUR PATRONS
Dibs Hawkwinder & Sam Kirwan
for your love and support.


​BANDS 
The Crimson Brigade, Sister Rose, Skyrider, Dark Heart, Dethonator, Thunderstick, Airforce, Weapon UK, Quartz,Chemikill, Rampant, Victorius Empire, Dead can wait, Blackmayne, Denial of Humanity, Abaddon, Jack Mylchreest, Snatchback, Stuckfish, Ray Phillips band, Culloden, Quartz, Bawls Out,
 The Bandoliers, Trespass, Kaine, The Deep, Desolation Angels, Satan's Empire, Troyen, Sacrilege, Not fit for humans, Avenger, Tysondog, Spartan Warrior, Mandora, Millennium, The Clan, Damaj, Wounded Cross, State of Anxiety, The PFJ,Dealer,Malleus, Neverworld,Toledo Steel, GANG, Osmium Guillotine, The Darker my Horizon, Desolate Pathway, Nitroville, Hammerex, Dai herbert, Chris Tinkham & DJ Dawn King.

ADDITIONAL MEGA SUPPORT 
 Jon Mikl THOR, LIPS from ANVIL, Karl Wilcox-Diamond Head, Steve Grimmett, Ray Phillips, Tracey Lamb-Girlschool, Antony Bray-Abaddon, Bill Gang, Derek Lyon-Satans Empire


PHOTOGRAPHERS 
Claire Mear, Jim Donnelly, Martyn Turner,
​Steve Ritchie, Jon Wilmer, Gosha, Ian Coult,
John Lambton, David Wilson, Ruth Hindson,
Christophe Vernimmen, 
Rebel Crow, Nick Grimley

STAGE SOUND LIGHTS MANAGERS
Ian Coult, Alison Metcalfe,
 
John Bell for his brilliant sound machine
& Abi Martin.
Saffron studios
Alex Perry, Jon WIlmer 
Dave Hills, Shaun Young, Gary Young


ARTWORK
Graham Orion Pax our main poster man!
& Robin Brancher for the  1st poster and 1979 design
Andy Wallis
for years worth of backstage passes 
Andrew Ormston-(Mearfest North 2019 backstage passes)
Martin Walkyier for printing our Molly shirts
Angela Holland-Yousaf - MEARFEST poster
Steve Ellis for your poetry


VOLUNTEERS & KIND FOLK!
Dave Bonney, Marie Edwards, Ian Purvis for millions of guitar picks, Mick Durion, Karen Barker, Aidan Tierney, Ultan Tierney, Pete Hood, Keith Adams, Peter Adams, Barrie Dorling, Linda Dorling, John Bellinger, Ruth Moore, Jim Miller, Daniel Boon, Ian Warner & Richard Johnson MF south security, Adam Mear, Simon Meer, Glennis Irish, Paul Cooper, Verina Charlesworth, Paula Evans, Vikki Rutherford, Andrew Ormston, Ian Coult, Linda Campbell, John Dunn, Nick and Nikki Patterson, Gosha, Sarah-J Gentil, Chris Gentil, Keith and Gemma Sallis,
Uncle John, Gosha & Tom,
Revd Carl Flynn for your prayers, 

Angela Holland & Carol Lyon for babysitting Amélie.

​SUPPORTERS & DONATIONS
This list of individual names is endless,
we thank you all on behalf of all our charities 

The willow support group 2016-2018
Down Syndrome North East 2017-2019
Steve Grimmett fund
Thames Valley Hospice 2010-2012
Trinity Hospice 2012
Charity for Kids 2017


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strong arm of the law

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  • MEARFEST
  • The complete Molly pick collection to buy
  • MOLLY & DONATION LINKS
  • OUR ANGEL BEARS
  • TAROT CARD DIP + GUITAR PICK GIFT BAG
  • SHOP: MOLLY SHIRTS
  • MEARFEST BABBLE
  • MEMORIES
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • SLOUGH 2011
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
  • EVENTS
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • PRESS
  • SAY HELLO
  • POETRY CORNER BY BRIAN MEAR