The Farthings, on Green Lane in Birmingham, is hosting a Family Fun Day on Saturday 6th July. The event is in honour of Rifleman Joe Murphy, a former regular at the pub, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on 10th July 2009. The pub has held ‘Joe Murphy Day’ every year since, to remember their friend and raise some money for Joe’s family.
Kicking off at 12pm, customers will find a Bucking Bronco, bouncy castle, face painting, an Ice Cream Van and other food trucks available for their enjoyment. There will be a DJ throughout the day and a specially erected Carling bar in the garden. The pub will also be putting on a huge BBQ spread and organising a raffle, full of exciting prizes, to help the cause. Then, from 9pm a Tom Jones tribute act will take to the stage for the evening’s entertainment.
Joe was only 18 when he tragically lost his life to an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sangin, Afghanistan. He joined the army from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and was described by his senior officers as a “star in waiting”, commended for his commitment and drive. Joe is survived by his parents, Brian and Jill, and his older brother, Ben.
Carrie-Anne Tanser, Manager of the Farthings, said: “This year is the 10th anniversary of Joe’s death, so we hope we can celebrate his memory properly. The team here have put on a fundraiser every year since, and it’s something we hope to continue doing long into the future. It is heart breaking to lose a member of our community at such a young age.
“The lads will also be doing their annual cycle in honour of Joe, cycling from here to Coleshill and back, to raise awareness and some sponsorship money. We’ve got some really exciting prizes to raffle off too, so I hope we can put together a significant sum to help Joe’s family as they try to move forward with their lives.”
Farthings, Green Lane, Birmingham B36 0AY