Diamond Jubilee Theme At Bedford Park Festival
Popular Chiswick community festival starts on June 16th
There will be a special Diamond Jubilee theme at this year’s Bedford Park Festival - Chiswick’s biggest community event – which this year will run from June 16th to July 1st.
The Jubilee theme starts at the Green Days fete, on Saturday June 16th, with the children’s fancy dress competition. Ten years ago, at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, there were some spectacular costumes, with winners dressed as kings, queens and a street party.
There’ll be a celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, with a 90-minute programme combining archive film, photographs, live commentary with actors, and piano accompaniment by the acclaimed silent-film pianist and broadcaster Neil Brand. It is presented by film historian Luke McKernan, featuring films from the collection of the British Film Institute, and recreates the procession taken through London on 22 June 1897 to mark the sixtieth year of the reign of Queen Victoria.
There’s also a special Diamond Jubilee category in the annual Photographic Exhibition and Competition. And the Festival climax will be a special Last Night of the Proms performance by singers from Opera Novella in St Michael & All Angels Church.
Other performers at this year’s Festival will include Kate Dimbleby and her trio, in her new show featuring the songs of Dory Previn. There’ll also be the regular favourites such as the Bedford Park Summer Exhibition and, on the final day, Sunday July 1 st, the Festival Mass and Bedford Park Open Gardens. Other events will be announced nearer the time.
This year’s Festival is a week later than usual because of the Diamond Jubilee weekend at the start of June. This will also be celebrated by St Michael & All Angels, with a special service on Sunday June 3 rd , followed by a Big Jubilee Lunch in the open air, outside the Parish Hall.
Fancy Dress competition in 2011
The Green Days fete, which attracts thousands of people each year with its mix of live music, children’s events, stalls, refreshments, Craft Fair and funfair, will be held on June 15 th and 16th. Green Days weekend opens a fortnight of community and arts events in aid of charities and StMichael & All Angels Church, supported by dozens of local businesses. Events include comedy, opera, dance, concerts, exhibitions, talks and open gardens.
The 2012 Festival will raise money for the work of St Michael’s, including its new Organ and Parish Rooms Appeal; and three other charities - CEDARS, which helps disadvantaged children in and around Chiswick (cctg.co.uk/cedars); The Upper Room, feeding the community in need in West London (ur4jobs.co.uk); and Hamlin Fistula UK, a charity which provides medical help for women in Ethiopia.
May 1, 2012