Twelve years ago, a group of friends met in a Headcorn pub to discuss having a round of golf in aid of charity.

Since then the Headcorn Imbibers have raised nearly £60,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice after working tirelessly to organise fundraisers in the village.

The group, made up of Paul Hughes, Jay Bray and Emma English, have held events for the Aylesford hospice ranging from an annual golf day to dinners and dances, all planned from their HQ, The George and Dragon. Their latest endeavour is a karaoke onesie party at the pub.

Paul, 53, of Tollgate Place said: “It started when myself and a handful of friends met at our local and we talked about having a golf day to raise money for a local charity. Around 20 people came along and that was 12 years ago.

“Every year the events get bigger and bigger and now I feel like they have a life of their own.

This year we will have up to a maximum of 120 people.

“It is only a few hundred pounds here and there but lots of little things can make a big difference. I’d like to say I do it because I’m a benevolent, kind hearted man but it is probably just that I have a lot of time on my hands!

“We have no link to the charity, we just thought it was a really worthy cause.”

Paul, who works at Natwest in Maidstone, is now competing in the national final of the bank’s Community Stars award, thanks to his fundraising efforts.

The karaoke party takes place on Friday, April 11 from 6.30pm to 9pm. Songs cost £2 and there will also be a raffle.

The annual golf day is held at the Weald of Kent Golf Course on July 11.