Tuesday is go! The Light Fund English Channel Relay to take place tomorrow

At 21:30 this Tuesday the two teams taking part in this year’s Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser will meet their boat pilots at Dover marina and at 23:00 the first swimmers will step into the water and start swimming for France. It will be very dark, very cold and very lonely. Some 15 to 24-plus hours later – tides, currents and any other eventuality permitting – the final swimmer in each team will hopefully reach the French coast somewhere between Calais and Boulogne.

Yes, The Light Fund English Channel Relay Swim Race is ‘Go’ this Tuesday evening – two days earlier than anticipated – and it’s all down to a small weather window in an otherwise unsettled period.

After more than 18 months of relentless training, commitment and preparation, the swimmers are as ready as they can be. Final team selections have now also been made. Team Optimist comprises Ian Down (captain), Eion Wallace, Katie Price, Jason Goonery, Mark Bezodis, Kevin Langstaff and reserve Tasmyn Knight. Team High Hopes comprises Stephen Gould (captain), Mark Kingston, Rhys Fleming, Anna Hewitt, Anne Bradford, Simon Gresswell and reserve Terry Lamb.

The Light Fund has set up a WhatsApp group with an additional link to the boat tracker set up by the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF), the governing body for English Channel swimming. This means you will not only be able to see and hear real-time action and film footage from the swim but also be able to encourage the swimmers with supportive messages.

Simply click on this link from your phone to automatically join free of charge. Your friends and colleagues involved in the swim be thrilled to know that you’re cheering them on. The GPS boat tracker can be found here: http://cspf.co.uk/tracking

And don’t forget – before, during and even after the swim there are still many opportunities to help The Light Fund reach its target of £250,000 for this fundraiser as well, of course, as chances for corporate sponsors to be namechecked in the challenge event film presentation at the 2022 Licensing Awards on 13 September at the Grosvenor on Park Lane.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. And individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also review the teams’ preparation for the big day. There are also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Event challenge organiser Stephen Gould says: “Despite the demands of work and family, interruptions from stomach bugs and covid, everyday stuff like repetitive strain injury and even domestic accidents which means one swimmer with a burn-blistered hand, we have trained diligently for months and we’re as ready as we’re going to be. It won’t be easy reconciling the cold, dark, pollution, Channel traffic and seasickness with a cramped open-deck boat in this notorious stretch of water, but we’ll be buoyed up by the amazing support we have received and will no doubt continue to receive from our friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Thanks again and please remember that the best way to cheer us on in this arduous ordeal is to donate – no matter how seemingly small or insignificant the sum. As we battle through guaranteed stress and discomfort, there is no better motivation than an escalating fundraising figure on JustGiving!”

About the Light Fund

The Light (Licensing Industry Giving Help Together) Fund was born when a group of like-minded people from the UK licensing industry came up with the idea to form a committee to help those less fortunate than themselves. The Light Fund is a registered charity, which raises monies to fund worthwhile charity projects that help children, women and men. Since its inception, back in 2004, The Light Fund has raised over £1.7 million and funded hundreds of different charity projects.

https://www.lightfund.org

The Light Fund Channel Relay partners with the RNLI

There are many beneficiaries of this year’s Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser but, appropriately enough, a portion of the funds raised by the two teams’ swim to France will go to support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and its work.

The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews are well known. But the RNLI also supplies seasonal beach lifeguards and a Flood Rescue Team and offers educational outreach, all of which need funding to keep going. RNLI crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives since its inception in 1824 and The Light Fund is keen to support them as they continue their great work.

But there’s another, more personal link between the licensing industry and the RNLI. Kelvyn Gardner, founder of Asgard Media, died in January 2021. He was a much-loved and respected member of the licensing community and a long-term supporter of The Light Fund as well as a very active member of its committee.

As a mark of respect to a good friend and colleague, The Light Fund Swim team have asked the RNLI to include Kelvyn’s name on the RNLI’s soon to be launched new Wells-next-the-Sea Shannon Class Lifeboat. Kelvyn’s name will appear alongside a number of other people’s names on the boat as part of the RNLI’s Launch a Memory programme.

As a Light Fund supporter, Kelvyn would no doubt have been thrilled to hear of its latest fundraising effort, a swim to France scheduled to start between 30 June and 3 July, at around 2am on a day when conditions are optimal.

As the swim window gets closer, there are still many opportunities to sponsor the swim and help The Light Fund reach its target of £250,000 as well, of course, as being namechecked in the challenge event film presentation at the 2022 Licensing Awards in September.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. And individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams preparing for the big day. There are also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Team stalwart Mark Kingston says: The Light Fund supports a wide range of worthy causes, but, considering the theme of this year’s big fundraiser, helping one of the world’s oldest and best-known lifesaving organisations seems entirely appropriate. It’s also a great opportunity to offer a tribute to a valued friend and colleague. Kelvyn was a committed supporter of The Light Fund and this is a marvellous way to salute him.”

About the Light Fund

The Light (Licensing Industry Giving Help Together) Fund was born when a group of like-minded people from the UK licensing industry came up with the idea to form a committee to help those less fortunate than themselves. The Light Fund is a registered charity, which raises monies to fund worthwhile charity projects that help children, women and men. Since its inception, back in 2004, The Light Fund has raised over £1.7 million and funded hundreds of different charity projects.

https://www.lightfund.org

Hasbro presents: The Light Fund Channel Relay – the film

The two teams taking on The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser are now to star in a short film – which will be unveiled during the 2022 Licensing Awards, The Great Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Tuesday 13 September 2022. The film will be sponsored by Hasbro.

The action-packed short film will include highlights of both the arduous training process and then the gruelling swim itself before rounding off with a triumphant landing for the teams in France and a thank-you to all the sponsors, including, of course, Hasbro. The global play and entertainment company, which delivers immersive brand experiences for global audiences through consumer products, including toys and games, entertainment and gaming, is the sponsor of the film, funding the entire production process from staffing to filming to editing, and adding a generous donation to the Channel Relay effort.

The film will be made by Albus Studios, a company founded in 2014 that specialises in film, photography and art, delivering exciting and effective content for B2B and B2C clients. The award-winning Albus team has worked with top brands across automotive, lifestyle and tourism, technology and current affairs, so is ideally suited to the requirements of a film that focuses on licensing – albeit a very unusual area of the licensing business.

It’s going to be quite a film too, in which two teams – a total of 14 people – endure prolonged physical exertion and try to avoid potential hazards, including hypothermia, seasickness, boats, sewage and oil, in sea temperatures of 16C or lower (without a wetsuit) while trying to race each other to the shores of France.

The big swim is scheduled to start between the 30th of June and the 3rd of July around 2am on a day when conditions for the swim are optimal.

Hasbro’s generous donation has taken the money raised and pledged even closer to the Light Fund target of £250,000 – which will be a record for any single Light Fund challenge. But there’s a lot more money to be raised and there are still many opportunities to sponsor a brave and slightly offbeat fundraising effort as well, of course, as being name-checked in the film at the 2022 Licensing Awards.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. And of course, individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams preparing for the big day. There’s also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Sally Carnota, Director Category Licensing at Hasbro, says: “This film will be a record of an inspirational and very brave fundraising effort. It will also be a big thank-you to all the participants and supporters involved in The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser. We are enormously honoured to be sponsoring the official record of this memorable effort.”

Team captain Stephen Gould says: “The toughest Light Fund Challenge yet is nearly with us and, thanks to Hasbro and Albus Studios, our efforts will be professionally recorded for what we hope will be a triumphant record of a successful swim. Our thanks to all our sponsors and donors to date. Don’t forget: there are still many opportunities to support The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser.”

About the Light Fund

The Light (Licensing Industry Giving Help Together) Fund was born when a group of like-minded people from the UK licensing industry came up with the idea to form a committee to help those less fortunate than themselves. The Light Fund is a registered charity, which raises monies to fund worthwhile charity projects that help children, women and men. Since its inception, back in 2004, The Light Fund has raised over £1.7 million and funded hundreds of different charity projects.

https://www.lightfund.org

 

Place your bids! The Light Fund Channel Relay silent auction is now live

The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser silent auction site is now live, with a fabulous selection of event tickets, money-can’t-buy experiences, rare souvenirs and much, much more up for grabs.

From 16 May all members of the licensing industry – brand owners, licensees, licensors and all who work with them – are invited to click on this link and place their bids to support the two six-person teams braving the unforgiving waters of the Channel in only a few weeks – and help them to hit their £250,000 fundraising target.

Of course, to get the impressive bids the Light Fund is aiming for requires a fabulous selection of items to bid on – and the industry has heard the call and responded with some fantastic prizes.

Ever wanted a Manchester United shirt signed by Marcus Rashford? Or a day out on the track in some cool cars from some famous movies? Or a course in brewing (and testing) your own beers? Or an Original Star Wars stormtrooper suit and helmet? Those are just a few of the prizes on offer – now – in the Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser silent auction.

You can also bid for golfing experiences, family fun days – including a trip to Peppa Pig World – Swiss watches and trips to the beach. You can even bid for swimming lessons at Taplow Lake from Light Fund English Channel Relay team member – and famed open water swimmer – Stephen Gould.

All you have to do is click, bid and cross your fingers. The auction closes on Friday 3 June. Winners will be notified shortly after auction ends.

And don’t forget, it’s for a seriously good cause! The big swim is scheduled to start between 30 June and 3 July at around 2am on a day when conditions are optimal and, as the date and the Light Fund target of £250,000 get closer, there are still many opportunities to sponsor this brave fundraising effort as well, of course, as being name-checked in a film at the 2022 Licensing Awards.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. Individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams preparing for the big day. There’s also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Team captain Stephen Gould says: “We’ve been genuinely thrilled, not just with the number of prizes the industry has contributed to the silent auction, but with the range and quality. Who wouldn’t want a signed Premier League shirt, a high-class spa day or a visit to Morgan Cars, after all? Or, for that matter, a day’s open water swimming with me?! Our thanks to everyone involved. Now… please place your bids!”

Call for prizes as Light Fund Channel swimmers announce silent auction

With less than two months to go before two teams of six people brave the unforgiving waters of the Channel and race to France, the organisers of The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser have announced plans for a silent auction to get the donations even closer to the £250,000 target – and readers of Licensing Biz can help.

On 16 May the auction site will go live and the link will be sent out on multiple platforms, then all you have to do is place your bids. Everyone in the licensing industry – brand owners, licensees, licensors and all who work with them – is invited to take part.

But of course, to get the impressive response the Light Fund is aiming for requires a fabulous selection of items to choose from – and the industry is already coming forward with prizes big and small including framed posters, limited edition books, tickets to major events, signed football shirts and much, much more.

Anyone who can help is urged to contact the organisers:

Tasmyn Knight / Tasmyn.Knight@hasbro.co.uk

Simon Gresswell / simon@sglp.co.uk

Anne Bradford / Anneb@Poeticbrands.com

Desirable items, event tickets, money-can’t buy experiences, rare souvenirs – anything worth bidding on is welcome. All prizes will be acknowledged on the auction website.

The big swim is scheduled to start between 30 June and 3 July at around 2am on a day when conditions are optimal and, as the date and the Light Fund target of £250,000 get closer, there are still many opportunities to sponsor this brave and slightly offbeat fundraising effort as well, of course, as being name-checked in a film at the 2022 Licensing Awards.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. And, of course, individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams preparing for the big day. There’s also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Team captain Stephen Gould says: “If there’s one industry that can supply desirable goods and services worth bidding for it’s the licensing industry. Let us know what you can offer and when. All of it is going to a fantastic cause and will be a great boost to the brave men and women swimming the Channel both by day and by night only a few short weeks from now. Our thanks to you all!”

The Light (Licensing Industry Giving Help Together) Fund was born when a group of like-minded people from the UK licensing industry came up with the idea to form a committee to help those less fortunate than themselves. The Light Fund is a registered charity, which raises monies to fund worthwhile charity projects that help children, women and men. Since its inception, back in 2004, The Light Fund has raised over £1.7 million and funded hundreds of different charity projects.

https://www.lightfund.org

The Light Fund Channel relay team face health-check hurdles

As the day on which The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser is due to take place draws closer, there’s still one major hurdle for the two teams: proving to the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF), the governing body for English Channel swimming, that they’re fit and healthy enough to take on a gruelling swim involving prolonged physical exertion and exposure to sea temperatures of 16C or lower – without a wetsuit.

That means an examining doctor must verify that each swimmer’s medical condition, health and fitness is at a level that would permit them to swim the English Channel, and also undertake the training involved.

Exhaustion and lack of energy are obvious threats to a successful Channel crossing if participants aren’t fit enough, but more serious hazards include hypothermia, swimming-induced pulmonary oedema (SIPE), sea sickness and vomiting-induced oesophageal ulceration.

In addition, few NHS doctors are willing to take on these medicals, not least due to a Covid-based backlog, and even if they do agree, there is often a charge of around £150.

On the upside, for some swimmers this has simply meant filling in a form, having a blood pressure check and offering a urine sample. But other participants didn’t have it quite so easy. Even the superfit team captain Stephen Gould has had problems over the years. He says: “Firstly, there’s white coat syndrome – raised blood pressure due to the stress of being in a clinic. Immersion in cold water also raises blood pressure. And doctors are wary of signing-off for a challenge like this due to potential litigation.”

However, none of the team members has had as much to get through as Kevin Langstaff, Senior Account Manager at GB eye Ltd. When he severely damaged his leg in a motorcycle accident nearly a decade ago he was told he may never walk again. Not only is he now walking but he passed his medical and is swimming the Channel in a few months. As he says: “I now have one leg largely made of metal, so my fellow team members are convinced I’m going to sink. Getting on and off the boat at sea could be interesting…”

Tests aside, the squad is still on course to do the big swim – scheduled to start between 30 June and 3 July at around 2am on a day when conditions for the swim are optimal. The money raised and pledged so far has taken the two intrepid teams almost two-thirds of the way to their target of £250,000 – which will be a record for any single Light Fund challenge.

But there’s a lot more money to be raised and only just over three months until the English Channel Relay takes place. And there are still many sponsorship opportunities out there.

You can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. Individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams as they prepare for the big day. There’s also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

Stephen Gould says: “It’s been a very tough few months for both teams and it’s about to get tougher, but at least we are close to naming two fully fit teams – and they’ll need to be – for possibly the toughest Light Fund Challenge yet. Our thanks to all our sponsors and donors to date – and a reminder that there are still many opportunities to support The Light Fund English Channel Relay fundraiser.”

 

The Light Fund announces Master Sponsors for English Channel Relay fundraiser

This summer, on a day between the 30th of June and the 3rd of July when the weather conditions are right, two boats of six swimmers will be racing each other across the English Channel to France in aid of The Light Fund charity. All the participants will be from the licensing industry, trying to be first to make it from Dover to the French coast – a 21-mile journey that could end up closer to 40 miles if you include tidal shifts.

The Light Fund has attracted a large and growing number of sponsors and donations for its forthcoming English Channel Relay fundraiser, and it can now proudly announce the Master Sponsors – the two groups that have taken on the biggest sponsorships available for this year’s Light Fund challenge.

Playmates Toys and Wow! Stuff have both guaranteed five-figure sums to support the pivotal role of the two pilot boats transporting, supporting and protecting both six-member swim teams during the relay.

A Light Fund spokesperson says: “For over 55 years, Playmates Toys’ commitment to quality and excellence in the design, development and marketing of character-rich toys has inspired imaginative play for generations of children worldwide. Wow! Stuff is a name globally synonymous with toy innovation for licensed brands. The names of both Master Sponsors will now appear on the two vessels: Pilot Boat Optimist and Pilot Boat High Hopes.

“The Playmates Toys and Wow! Stuff sponsorships won’t just support the hire of the boats, they will pay for the pilot, crew, observers, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF) registrations and access to the internal marina at Dover as well as pick-up collections, car parking and – of course – a licence for swimming across the busiest shipping channel in the world – with around 1,000 vessels per day in transit.

“Both sponsorships also include a more-than-generous donation towards this year’s Light Fund Challenge target of £250,000, which will be shared by principal beneficiary the RNLI and a number of other organisations and projects supported by the charity that is inspired, and run, by the licensing industry.”

Playmates Toys and Wow! Stuff are in distinguished company. Some 70 other businesses working in the licensing industry have supported the swimmers with sponsorships varying from hundreds to thousands of pounds – and covering everything from drinks bottles to deep sea water training, towels to film and drone technology.

The money raised and pledged so far has taken the two teams almost two-thirds of the way to their target of £250,000 – which will be a record for any single Light Fund challenge.

The generosity of all the companies backing the cross-Channel swim will be saluted both on and beyond the day of the swim itself. Every sponsor will be namechecked in a special thank-you video that will be among the highlights of this year’s Licensing Awards ceremony.

With only four months until the English Channel Relay takes place, there are still many sponsorship opportunities available. Interested parties can find out more about corporate sponsorship options here. Individuals are very welcome to donate via the event’s Just Giving page, where you can also follow the teams preparing for the big day. There’s also an Instagram feed and a Facebook page containing team photos and updates.

On the day itself a limited-access live feed is also planned in tandem with GPS trackers on each pilot boat: watch out for announcements on how to follow the challenge as it happens.

Michael Chan of Playmates Toys says: “We jumped at the opportunity to give our backing to this extraordinary challenge and play a role in bringing essential support to these two brave and committed teams. It’s a real honour to be a Master Sponsor for the licensing industry’s biggest charity challenge of the year.”

Richard North, CEO, Wow! Stuff, says: “When we heard that the licensing industry was supplying two teams to do a relay swim across the Channel we thought two things: ‘Are they mad?’ and ‘How can we help?’ The Light Fund helped the toy industry initiative ToyAid, which Joel Silverman and I set up during the height of the pandemic. This is Wow! Stuff’s thanks for that involvement and our commitment to be with the mad team of Light Fund swimmers every step – or stroke – of the way.”

As Stephen Gould, who will be captaining one of the two teams, says: “Without the dozens of sponsors and hundreds of smaller donations from so many people in the licensing industry this wouldn’t be happening. If you’ve backed us already, our sincere and grateful thanks. If you haven’t as yet, there are many more opportunities to support our teams and the many very worthwhile causes backed by the licensing industry’s very own charity.”

The Light (Licensing Industry Giving Help Together) Fund was born when a group of like-minded people from the UK licensing industry came up with the idea to form a committee to help those less fortunate than themselves. The Light Fund is a registered charity, which raises monies to fund worthwhile charity projects that help children, women and men. Since its inception, back in 2004, The Light Fund has raised over £1.7 million and funded hundreds of different charity projects.

https://www.lightfund.org

 

The Light Fund launches 10,000km for Kelvyn challenge this April with fundraising merchandise range

The licensing charity The Light Fund has launched a new initiative in memory of late industry legend, Kelvyn Gardner, encouraging the sector’s network to come together and cover 10,000km throughout April.

Gardner – who was a long-standing trustee for The Light Fund – passed away suddenly in January. He was a firm believer in getting 10,000 steps a day which is where the idea for the challenge in his memory was born.

As Covid-19 restrictions begin to lift, and people are able to meet up and exercise with colleagues outdoors, the licensing community is being asked for its help to meet the target of 10,000km by the end of April, with the cumulative effort being tracked via Strava.

In lieu of traditional sponsorship fundraising, a range of special merchandise has been created and is available from www.10000km4Kelvyn.com. Rather than asking for money in the current climate, people can instead purchase a t-shirt or hoodie to wear on their daily activity, a mug to have a well earned refreshment once your run is complete, or a keyring for your car keys on the days you drive out a little further from home to explore a new route.

All profits from the sale of the merchandise – with tees and hoodies available for both adults and children – will go to The Light Fund to help deserving causes in Kelvyn’s name.

For those who would prefer to make a donation can do so via a JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/the-light-fund

People will be encouraged to share photos of their activities on social media, with The Light Fund committee members also logging their fair share of the miles.

A 10000km4kelvyn club has been created on Strava https://www.strava.com/clubs/893847 and will keep track of the overall distance covered.

Simply log in to the app – or it can be downloaded for free from the App Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices – search for ‘10000km4kelvyn’ and click to join. The app will track your distance, route and time by starting and stopping an activity within it. Y

ou can also link it to a smart watch or upload it manually. Kilometres notched up via cycling or swimming will need to be uploaded manually as a run for the distance to be tracked.

“Kelvyn was a true legend in the IP licensing industry which he graced for many decades,” said David Scott, treasurer of The Light Fund. “He was both a passionate advocate of licensing to those outside the industry and a massive support to all of us within it. Approachable, enthusiastic, witty and wise, Kelvyn was a treasured friend to countless numbers of people around the world and we shall all miss him dearly.

“One of his many virtues was to serve as a long-standing trustee for The Light Fund charity and, to remember this wonderful man, The Light Fund invites you to help us raise funds for deserving causes in his name, by joining with us in together completing 10,000km for Kelvyn.”

Kelvyn’s wife, Michelle, and his children Regan and Eliot, commented: “We are very pleased to support this amazing fundraiser for Kelvyn as organised by The Light Fund. Kelvyn would have loved it! We wish everyone great success in their endeavours. We’ll see you out there in our t-shirts and hoodies.”

Kelvyn Gardner | Global licensing community pays tribute to industry’s ‘brightest star and biggest heart’

Tributes have been paid en masse from across the industry to ‘one of licensing’s brightest stars and biggest hearts’, Kelvyn Gardner, who very sadly died unexpectedly yesterday morning (January 26).

As the tragic news broke throughout the evening, members from across the global licensing community were moved to share condolences and memories of the greatly respected and much-loved ‘king of licensing’ who died of a heart attack this week.

The founder of Asgard Media and the long-time managing director of Licensing International UK, as well as an active member of the Light Fund committee, Kelvyn will be remembered as a source of inspiration, friendship, and support to many across the industry.

Kelvyn’s wife, Michelle, alongside his daughter Regan and son Eliot shared the news yesterday evening. Michelle also posted a message to the social media platform, LinkedIn to relay the news to the extensive community of friends and colleagues that Kelvyn had built around him over his lifetime in licensing.

“It was almost instant, he had tingling pains in his arms and felt a slight pain in his chest,” she posted. “I was getting dressed to take him to emergency as I wasn’t happy with what was going on, when he fell back and started not breathing properly. I called 999 and was on the phone while doing heart massage (cpr).

“The ambulance took only ten minutes to arrive, where they worked on Kelvyn for about an hour. Although they were extremely kind, saying they were taking him into MK Hospital where the resuscitation team was waiting, myself, Regan & Eliot (his children) knew that he had passed away.

“As I am typing this I just cannot tell you how we feel we are at a loss… It was Kelvyn’s 66th birthday on the 22nd of January 2021 and was going to be our big wedding anniversary 40 years… we had joked that he wouldn’t know one end of a ruby if it bit him, so I think I might have got some ruby coloured Warrington gear!

“Please feel free to get in touch, as Covid is so crap you know that funerals are 30 people, so in time we think a memorial service in its stead (Covid notwithstanding) – Michelle Gardner.”

Michelle’s message and the sudden shock of the news has prompted a mass outpouring from an industry enchanted by a man for whom licensing and the people within it was a way of life. 

In the tributes that continue to be paid to him, Kelvyn has been remembered as the “brightest star and biggest heart in the licensing industry” as well as a ‘familiar and friendly face of the licensing industry; a genuine man who always had time for a chat. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.’

From the early days in the licensed collectables space with Merlin through his career with Licensing International UK and in the latter years with Asgard Media (his own award-winning business that he maintained throughout) as well as his Living with Licensing Podcast, Kelvyn had been the voice of the industry.

A friend to all in the business, Kelvyn has always been a constant source of support and inspiration to us at Licensing.biz; our conversations always characterised by laughter, his sharing of great insight and depth of knowledge, and is ability to ever be forward-looking.

A true embodiment of the licensing community he helped create, Kelvyn will be deeply missed by all within it.

Kelvyn’s family have requested that no flowers are sent, but anyone who would like to get in touch can do so by writing to Pendragon House, Wicken Rd, Deanshanger, Milton Keynes, MK19 6JR.

Michelle, Regan, and Eliot are to advise on which charity they would like people to donate to in Kelvyn’s honour. 

A birthday party with Richard Cadell and tickets for Lions vs Japan among prizes in The Light Fund’s silent auction

The Light Fund is looking to bring a little Christmas cheer to the end of a tough year with the launch of a silent auction and prize draw, offering entrants the chance to win ‘some incredible money can’t buy prizes.’

With industry events and get-togethers put on hold throughout 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Light Fund has missed vital opportunities to raise funds for the causes it supports this year. The silent auction is the organisation’s bid to recoup some of those with the help of the industry.

There’s a spectacular array of prizes and auction lots, including the chance to have Sooty and Richard Cadell host a birthday party for a lucky child and five friends, or for author Jonny Duddle to Zoom into a classroom to host a Gigantosaurus live drawing and reading event.

Meanwhile, as and when real life events return, there are some great lots available including a week’s holiday in Cornwall,  a trip for two people to the MTV European music awards (including the after show party), and a pair of  tickets to watch the Lions VS Japan at Murrayfield.

You can view the prizes and auction lots, make your bids, and buy tickets over on the website – www.givergy.uk/TheLightFund

The Light Fund raffle is now also selling tickets – £10 each – for the chance to win more prizes, including a £500 online shopping voucher with The Entertainer/Early Learning Centre, or a £500 voucher for Selfridges.

Within three days of launching, the total donations were already up to £4,000, but with the support of the industry and its family and friends, the organisation is looking to raise a lot more.

Bids for the auction will close on 17th December, 2020, and the raffle will also be drawn on the same day.

Anyone who has items they would like to donate as prizes should please contact Anne Bradford AnneB@poeticbrands.com / 07788 585343. New lots and prizes would be very welcome and there is still plenty of time to add them.