How Wareham Wednesdays Started...
Back in January 2011 Mark Howlett of the then Farwells Newsagents (now retired) and Mark Gannon of Tradewind Graphics had the brilliant idea of getting a few local business owners and licensees together to come up with a plan to help reenergise the town…it was decided that Wareham would benefit from holding an event once a week throughout the summer holidays. As the majority of the new committee members were licensees, a day in the week worked better than at the weekend for their usual busy trade…and with a nice ring to it ‘Wareham Wednesdays’ was born!
With lots of very generous donations from local businesses we were able to pay for public liability insurance, build our own stage, pay for fireworks, live bands, car park closures and a license and stock for the bar.
Our first year was a very basic set-up but a resounding success none the less; we not only started attracting more visitor’s each week but also more volunteers and some very valuable committee members. Within a few years we were able to start giving to local charities from our donated profits, going from strength to strength being able to donate large sums of money to both cancer treatment units in Wareham and Poole, as well as to Dorset Mind Charity.
During the 14 years Wareham Wednesdays has been running we have given over £25,000 to various local charities and worthwhile causes including placing a defibrillator on the Quay, moving the town’s CCTV monitors to the police station, replacing the Saxon sword on the roundabout, helped to get the town clock chiming again, fitted wet rooms and provided new flooring in the Parish Hall plus lots of other good causes along the way.
We soon outgrew our handmade stage but due to all the fundraising we were able to start hiring a professional stage, obtain a premise licence for The Quay and extend our road closures. Due to the generosity of The Quay Inn and The Old Granary we were able to put on bigger bands and better fireworks.
2025 sees us in our 15th summer and we have seen a lot of changes throughout the years and even though we now attract thousands of visitors to our events costs have risen dramatically and we have accumulated many more expenses along the way but thanks to the generosity of our visitors we can still put on these great events and hopefully will do for years to come.
Join the Team
If you would like to join the team whether you have a few hours to spare or are looking for a regular commitment, there are plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. From assisting with event planning and logistics to helping out on the day with setting up stalls, greeting visitors, or managing activities, your time and skills can make a real impact. No prior experience is required - just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved. Join us in creating memorable Wednesdays for the Wareham community and help bring everyone together for fun, laughter, and connection!