AFTER just five months of preparations Maldon's inaugural music festival went off without a hitch yesterday (Saturday).
The sun shined down on the first ever Samstock at the Museum of Power, Langford, on as festival-goers enjoyed music from nearly 20 artists including Next of Kin, Soley Mourning and Toploader across two stages, while sipping on Pimms or taking a break in the multi-coloured 'Chill Chamber'.
And it is hoped that the cash raised might be enough to enable Maldon teenager Sam Richards to communicate once again after a fall left him with life-changing injuries in September 2012.
Rushing around backstage at the event on Saturday afternoon Sam's mother Teresa Mecoy, who organised the day with the help of three fellow mothers Sue Wylie, Della Brockis, and Jenny Whiteley, believed the team had achieved what they had set out to.
"It's going really well, I'm so pleased with the turnout which is absolutely fantastic. We have always concentrated on it being a family festival and that's what we have achieved," said the 43-year-old.
"It started as a family fun day and has transformed into this. Now we have Toploader headlining and 19 other acts – it's just turned into something as big as that."
The charitable family festival was born from the need to raise funds for 18-year-old Sam after the teen fell from play equipment at the Oak Tree Meadow play area in Heybridge fracturing his skull.
The former Plume College sixth-form student was put in an induced coma after the fall and despite making good progress over the last 18 months, his brain damage means he finds it very difficult to communicate through talking and spends most of his time in a wheelchair.
It is hoped that enough cash will have been raised from the day to buy Sam a picture exchange aid which will allow him to communicate more easily with his family.
"The first time festivals like this are held they tend to just breakeven but I'm certain we will have raised some money for Sam. We've had a lot of help, a lot of sponsors. This time it's for Sam and if we were to do it again it could be for another charity," added Teresa, who has recently moved into a specially-adapted home with her son.
Getting into the festival spirit with flower headbands, and face paints friends Jonathan Morrell, Ryan Grant, Abbey Wilson, and Phoebe Sturges were looking forward to the headliners, 90s band Toploader, who had a number one hit with Dancing in the Moonlight in 1999.
"It's a good family atmosphere, really relaxed like an actual old-school festival," said student Abbey, 20.
"Nothing like this ever really happens usually in Maldon so it's great – it's really nice to see the community all come out together," added Jonathan, 22.
Far from catering only for its younger guests however parents bringing along young kids to the event had an entire 'Magical Kingdom' in which to entertain them with tables full of paints, glitter and craft materials.
"It's definitely a nice change to be able to bring along the kids to something like this, with similar events in Essex like the V-Festival it just isn't possible," said Maldon mum-of-three Donna Bell, whose daughter Millie, six, was busily decorating a huge piece of crepe paper with coloured pens and glitter.
The 12-hour event successfully brought together everyone from young familes, to retired couples, and students who all could be spotted relaxing in deckchairs while the bands played, or munching on burgers in the Chill Chamber or even partaking in a puppet workshop with children's entertainer Pamela Carper.
And although the organisers won't commit to it just yet it looks as if the day may well become a regular fixture in Maldon's social calendar for years to come.
