ABOUT US

Who and What is Montserrat Events

 

Background History

It all began with an ambitious plan to run a celebration for the 75th anniversary of VE Day and subsequently VJ day in 2020 and was called LEE VE75. Following the cancellation in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic it was decided to run the event in 2021 and rebrand the event as The Lee Victory Festival.

 

The organisers were also approached to run the Lee Music Festival which had been operating for several years at a local bar/restaurant in the summer.  This was incorporated into their plans to run musical concerts during the Summer under the name Summer Sounds.

 

As the organising team were now planning to run these separate events at different times of the year it was decided to formalise the organisation under an umbrella company and hence Montserrat Events was formed.

 

Operations

Montserrat Events was established in March 2021. A group of volunteers was recruited for the LEE VE75 Event and worked on the Victory Festival which was financed by sponsorship from individuals, local organisations, and local businesses. 

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On the 1st March 2021, the business registered for VAT, which means that our prices for stall and tickets prices now include the VAT rate at 20%.

 

Who are the Directors

Jonathan Moore - Founder/ MD has been a resident of Lee on the Solent since 2009. He has been the driving force behind all of the events seen in  Lee and has been instrumental in bringing the team of lead volunteers together.

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Vaughan Bidewell - Finance, has lived in Lee for many years and enjoys being part of a busy team looking after the financial side of all the events & projects.

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Montserrat are eager to promote Lee as a vibrant place to live and for businesses to thrive and be successful.

As the events have evolved it became apparent that the structure of the business needed to be amended; with the business changing to a CIC (Community Interest Company) in August 2022 ,which is overseen by the Regulator of Community Interest Companies.

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Delivered?

Montserrat Events has planned and delivered many events here in Lee on the Solent. This includes the complete process of complying with Gosport Council’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) requirements with event plans and policies. Key to the success of the events has been the raising of sponsorship, creating a brand and its awareness, sourcing stalls and vendors, supply partners and entertainment for both adults and children.  We are now moving outside of Lee with the support to the organisers of the Bishop Waltham Festival and corporate events. 

 

Our Events

• The Smile Food & Craft Fayre

• Party in Park

• Summer in Lee: Summer Sounds, Summer Funfair, Summer Market and Summer Pirates

• Lee Victory Festival

• Remembrance Sunday (2021)

• Christmas in Lee (2021) 

• Lee Beacon22 for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations on the 2nd June

• Lee Coronation Celebration 

• Race Nights

• Musial Concert & 5 Course Black Tie Dinner

• Corporate Events

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Bringing the community together

Montserrat Events has recruited a team of approximately 40 volunteers who support and help with the activities and events and are we have named them the ‘Making People Smile’ team.​ Montserrat Events supports the following charities.

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• The Hovercraft Museum

• Alex Wardle Charity 

• National Coastwatch Institution 

• Children with Cancer UK

• Hampshire Autism 

• Gosportarians 

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The future...

 

More amazing events will be organised and delivered.

 

Montserrat Events also wants to create community funds for projects which would see assets being provided for the community such as a new Bandstand and an ambitious idea of trying to rebuild the pier or a 'stubby one' that once stood here in Lee. There are lots of other ideas which are brought to the table, and these are discussed with the relevant parties to assess viability.

 

Development of the “Smile Stage”.  Here investment has been made into a 7.5t curtain insider lorry to be converted into a mobile entertainment space, which is to be branded as ‘The Smile Stage’ The stage had its first outing in its basic form for the Summer Sounds Charity Music Festival, which was a huge success and we now look forward to many events where the stage can be used. The stage will be available for hire at preferential rates for local charity groups.