Martin and Philippa Clunes and the Buckham Fair planning Committee have visited the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit currently under construction at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
The renowned Buckham Fair community event is returning on 2nd August 2026 after a break of five years. Profits will be donated to support the DCH Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.
The £2.5 million Appeal will help to fund equipment and facilities beyond the NHS budget for the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit. The £100 million project is funded by the Government’s New Hospital programme (NHP) and is due to open in 2027.
The Buckham Fair committee visited the current Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit to understand the need for more space, equipment and facilities which will enable staff to respond to the needs of the local population now, and for generations to come. The Emergency Department is currently serving more than double the capacity it was built for.
Actor, director, and television presenter, Martin Clunes, is a founder of Buckham Fair and lives in Dorset. He said, “The staff at DCH are amazing but they need more space, and they’re going to expand into this beautiful new unit and be given even better tools to be able to carry out and administer the wonderful care that they always have done. The NHS is investing £100 million, and we’re raising even more for these wonderful doctors and nurses to help give them what they need to do their job to the best of their ability. Buckham Fair is an opportunity for people to come and give what they want to give, and we’ll give every single penny of the profits we make to help fund this project.”
DCH Charity’s Head of Fundraising, Jodi Hibbard said, “We’d like to thank the Buckham Fair committee for bringing back this very special community event this summer, specifically to raise funds for the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. We are over halfway to our £2.5 million target, and we are now in the final year of fundraising, so this event will make a huge difference to helping us fund enhanced facilities for the new departments at DCH. We are looking forward to meeting people from the local community and spreading the word about the benefits the new facilities at DCH will bring to people who live locally. We are delighted to be able to combine this important fundraising with a memorable day out for all ages from the local community and further afield!”
Buckham Fair is a fun-filled day of dog shows, local trade stalls, delicious food stands, the famous Beer Tent, action-packed displays in the main ring, a fun fair, Heavy Horse displays, the Heavy Horse village.
To find out more about Buckham Fair and book tickets visit: Home – Buckham Fair 2026.
