THIS summer will mark five years since event organiser Phil Partridge devised a plan to bring a music festival to Capel.
Today, the village's music festival is one of the biggest events in Mole Valley's calendar, with last year's showcase attracting 3,000 visitors and raising more than £14,000 for charity.
However, the festival's inaugural event threatened to kill off the idea before it had even started, when only 200 villagers turned up and organisers were left out of pocket.
"By the end of the day I was totally drained and downhearted that we hadn't made any money," said Phil.
"But my spirits were lifted by the enthusiasm of those who came, who all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and who encouraged me to give it another go."
The risk paid off, and the next year the festival got bigger and better, as villagers wanted to be involved and put Capel on the map.
Over the next two years, the Capel Music Festival raised £10,000, split between Surrey Young Carers and Surrey Air Ambulance.
A year later, word of mouth brought more than 2,000 people to support that year's chosen charity, Leatherhead-based The Rainbow Trust, raising £7,000.
Phil added: "Last year was a truly memorable event with sunshine and blue skies, a fabulous line-up of bands and 3,000 attendees whose generosity helped raise more than £14,000 for The Rainbow Trust, who were once again the chosen charity.
"The temperature hit 32 degrees Celsius, but our wonderful volunteers kept going, the children made full use of the bouncy castles, the bands relocated to an outdoor stage and the bar was drunk dry.
"As we cleared up, my thoughts were already turning to 2013."
He continued: "Five years on, the Capel Music Festival is a well-established, popular event with a 13-strong committee dedicated to delivering a small, safe event, run by villagers for villagers.
"It's a fun way to bring the community together and to raise funds for local charities, which this year includes St Catherine's Hospice."
The festival is on Capel Recreation Ground on Sunday, August 18, from midday to 7.30pm.
Tickets are available in advance or on the day for £7 per adult with free entry for children under 12.
To buy tickets or for details, visit www.capelmusicfestival. org.uk or e-mail info@capelmusicfestival.org.uk
For your chance to win tickets to the Capel Music Festival, turn to our go! pages.