WESTBURY Festival is over for another year and the town has been celebrating another ‘great festival’.
With over 60 events taking place over two weeks, the festival line up featured something for everyone, from a superhero arts and craft session, to an evening of comedy.
Chair of the Westbury Festival committee, Ian Cunningham said, “Westbury had another great festival and by now it is nearly all over; although there are still four showings of a delightful play “The Bird Show” to run in Westbury town’s four primary age schools – but these are just for pupils.
“I don’t like to pick favourites, as I have genuinely enjoyed everything I have seen, but our series of free lunchtime concerts in All Saints Church has been a highlight yet again.
“I would particularly like to thank the church for the use of this wonderful venue, Christine Jenkins (who is the committee member who pulled together such a fabulous programme), as well as Mary Pyne who supported her, and everyone who acted as stewards each day; and, of course, the wonderful performers.
“Members of the congregation served tea, coffee and cakes throughout. I’d also like to thank the local schools both for their support with pupils attending nearly every day, as well as performing in a delightful concert on the last Thursday.
“I am pleased to report that we managed to just about run out of space in the church. In fact, we also filled the Methodist Church with a wonderful talk from Sally Hendry (chair of the Heritage Society) and Julian Richards (from so many TV shows) on the story of the Quakers, their graveyard and the sterling work of the Leos, Lions and other volunteers.
“We did find that numbers were down for some of our evening events this year – it was noticeable from our online bookings that visitors from nearby towns and villages were quite reduced – and we had nobody from Salisbury, Bournemouth or Bristol as we did last year!
“I will leave it up to readers to figure out why people may have been avoiding Westbury this year – that really was, as they say, ‘matters beyond the committee’s control’. We made many new friends, including the Coalition of Superheroes who supported several events and brought much happiness to many children
“As usual, there are so many to thank but above all I would like to pay tribute to the committee – I find it incredible that fewer than 10 people can achieve so much (over 60 events that you could attend when you include those that were open for more than one day).
“We also have to thank our festival sponsors, Westbury Town Council, Elkins Ford, Hills Group, HPH Commercial Property, Linden Homes and Lockheed Martin as well the sponsors of individual events including Westbury Lions, Haine & Smith, Brighterkind, Sovereign Housing, All Instruments and our partners at Westbury Library & Dilton Marsh Arts Trust, and those businesses and groups who added their own events or hosted them.
“Once again, we must thank EJ Crafts for being the box office and Davies Hardware and the Heritage Society for allowing us to invade their windows.
“We’d also like to thank the White Horse News for all their support yet again.”
