'A fitting way to remember'- Prestonians raise thousands for Rosemere in tribute to late friend

A charity music event in Preston has raised thousands for a cancer charity which does amazing work all over the county.

Orchard Craft Beer Bar held Battle of the Bands at Preston Market between Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 to raise money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation and this week they were able to hand over an impressively large cheque for £3000 to the charity.

Having successfully held a charity music festival last year for St Catherine’s Hospice, Orchard Craft Beer Bar wanted to bring the festival back this year and make it even bigger.

This time however, the popular bar, run by Gary Quinn and his partner Jane Briscoe, wanted to raise funds for Rosemere as it had taken care of a beloved regular customer, Darren Hall, who sadly passed away last year aged 58.

Battle of the Bands organiser Kevin Quinn said: “I organised the event last year as a one off but it went down so well that we decided to do another one, but make it two days instead. We chose Rosemere as we were all such good friends with Darren, who received treatment there.”

Kevin and Gary, who are brothers, had known Darren since they were children as he had worked for their grandmother at Empire Services Club on Hartington Road.

Explaining why an event celebrating Preston’s musical talent was a particularly appropriate way to remember the late barman, Kevin told the Post: “Darren was Preston born and bred, a Preston North End fan. He enjoyed live music as well and was always up for supporting local charities so it just felt fitting this year, as Darren was friends with so many of us, that we chose Rosemere.”

The £3000 cheque was presented to Rosemere at a special event held on Tuesday at the Orchard Craft Beer Bar, featuring regulars and more live music from Preston musician Kevin Ash who took part in the Battle of the Bands.

Hannah Leahy, fundraising assistant for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are very grateful to Kevin for choosing to support Rosemere Cancer Foundation in tribute to his and his brother’s friend Darren Hall.

“Battle of the Bands is a fantastic showcase and celebration of the Preston area’s awesome musical talent. As such, it also seems a very fitting way to remember Darren. Darren was a patient at Rosemere Cancer Centre and so the £3,062.84 donation in his name will go towards projects at the centre to directly benefit its current patients.”

Following the cheque event, Kevin added: “It felt amazing handing over the cheque as I kept saying when asked that my target was £3000 so I was made up to hit it".

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, which is the region’s specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and also at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.

The charity funds cutting-edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients’ cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free.

For further information and to donate, visit www.rosemere.org.uk

You can also take a look at a selection of pictures from Battle of the Bands Preston 2026 here.