Boughton jazz picnic seeking fresh East Anglian charities to support; past ones included King's Lynn Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Organiser of the annual Boughton jazz picnic since 2007 Paul Coulten is looking for fresh regional charities to support from the event at Rectory House, Boughton PE33 9AH at lunchtime on Sunday.

“Over the years I’ve been able to donate to the QEH, Tapping House, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, the EA Air Ambulance, Norfolk Churches Trust, Help for Heroes and Walking with the Wounded – the list goes on,” he added.

“It’s wonderful to be able to sit on the lawn with your own picnic and listen to some live traditional jazz, while all the time being able to raise money for some excellent causes.

"We hope to have two Ukrainian families here. Their husbands were already working here (near Ely) but they were classed as seasonal workers so couldn't obtain Visas for their families.

"The war in Ukraine changed all that: the wives and kid fled Kharkiv to Poland. They had stated they wished to come to this area for obvious reasons.

"My wife picked this up on some website and after a two month struggle the Visas were granted, and my wife was able to collect them from Heathrow.

"The reunion here with their husbands was pretty emotional. My wife happened to contact a friend David Brand from Ely (who owns the huge Witchford industrial park).

"He immediately responded with the offer of a new three bedroom house in Haddenham, rent free, for both families (which are related).”

Contact him on paulcoulten@btinternet.com