Ipswich pub The Earl Kitchener on giving back to community

The Earl Kitchener has changed many hands over the past few years, but for current owner Shaun Welham part of his plan was to ensure members of the pub has opportunity to give back to local charities. 

Since 2022, employees Ken Kavanagh and Phil Morry have led the pub's regular fundraisers  and raised £8,450 in two years. 

On Saturday, they gave £940 for St Elizabeth Hospice, to thank them for taking care of a former owner of the pub.

Phil Morry, left, and Ken Kavanagh, right, have been the ones organising the charity events. (Image: Contributed)

The event on the weekend was in honour of Steve Wardley, the uncle of Ipswich boxer Fabio Wardley and the owner of the pub who had notably helped renovate it after a devastating fire in October 2014.

Mr Wardley left the Hadleigh Road pub in 2020 and has recently been taken care of by St Elizabeth Hospice. 

"There are a lot of charitable workers in the hospice and they do some unbelievable work," Mr Kavanagh added.

"We just wanted to help raise some funds to give back to the organization as a way of thanking them for looking after Steve."

The current management of the pub hosted an evening where customers could watch and bet on horse races, and all proceeds would go to the charity. 

Current owner Steve Welham, left, helped raise money in honour of boxer Fabio Wardley's uncle and a former owner of the pub. (Image: Contributed)

They have held multiple such sports evenings over the years and donated money to Cancer UK, Mencap and Youth Zone. 

"Shaun Welham has always been very supportive of making many charity events to give back to local people," Mr Kavanagh said.

"The patrons and the customers of the pub are very willing to donate when there's a very good cause attached to it."