Something To Say raises £10,000 for Cheshire Mind
Friends, family, musicians and students came together for the Something to Say festival at The King’s Lock in Middlewich to celebrate Dave’s life and raise money for mental health support.
On 12 September, friends and family and the wider community gathered at The Kings Lock in Middlewich for an all-day music festival called Something To Say, held in memory of Dave Speakman.
The Something to Say festival was the culmination of a week of fundraising, which included prize bingo, an open mic night, a charity quiz, a raffle and an auction. Together, the events raised £11,058, with just over £10,000 coming to Cheshire Mind.
Remembering Dave
Dave was a guitar teacher, a professional musician, and the kind of person who believed everyone deserved the chance to learn music, not just those who could afford lessons. He ran free group guitar lessons for beginners and built a studio in Middlewich that became a hub for local musicians, offering endless encouragement to anyone, regardless of ability.
Dave took his own life after a long battle with his mental health, following the loss of his wife Sarah to cancer two years earlier. He never really recovered from losing her.
The team from Something to Say and the Kings Lock wanted the festival to bring together everyone Dave touched through music, from the musicians he played with, his students, artists and bands that recorded at his studio and everyone who came through his free lessons.
The name Something To Say comes from one of Dave’s own songs and also carries a message about how important it is to talk about our mental health.
A week of fundraising
The week of fundraising began with prize bingo on Sunday 6 September, followed by an open mic night on Tuesday 8 September, celebrating Dave’s love of music and his encouragement of others to play. A charity quiz was held on Thursday 10 September before the Something To Say music festival on Saturday 12 September.
The fundraising also included a raffle and auction, with local businesses and individuals donating prizes and people coming together to support the cause.
The money raised will go directly back into our local communities, helping us to continue delivering vital mental health services across Cheshire.
Alongside the money raised for Cheshire Mind, £1,058 was donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, in recognition of the care Sarah received.
Posted on: 17th September 2026