Leominster Festival 1986

Leominster Festival 1986

Year	1986
Dates	7th - 22nd June 1986
Events	36

7th - 22nd June 1986

Leominster Festival 1986 is the fourth festival, still currently occurring every two years. In the time since the last festival, the cattle market, once positioned in the centre of town, has now moved to the edge of town to be replaced by a supermarket. Quite a change for the town. For the first time, there is also a dedicated Tourist Information Centre, located in School Lane and the Community Centre opens its doors in the old school.

On this fourth year, the programme received a substantial update to a larger format with more detail and even some black and white photographs. The cover is redesigned by Jane Wells The programme now also sports a 50p price tag!

The programme includes the main events first with a larger write-up and sometimes, for the first time, photographs. Following this are 'Other Events' with a summary of smaller events also happening as part of the Festival. I have incorporated these additional events into the itinery below to present the complete programme in date order as it would have occurred. Exhibitions and events which run for the whole festival are included at the end.

Programme Introduction

Editorial

LEOMINSTER FESTIVAL ‘86

Welcome to the fourth Leominster Festival!

If you are a visitor to Leominster, we hope you’ll take time to explore our ancient market town famous in the Middle Ages for its fine quality wool. It retains today many medieval “black and white” buildings, such as those in Draper’s Lane and Corn Square, and of a later date the magnificent Grange Court (formerly the Market Hall) built by John Abel, the King’s Carpenter, in 1633.

Grange Court is featured along with the Priory Church on the cover of this souvenir programme which local artist, Jane Wells of Cardinal Cottage, Yarpole, was commissioned to design.

There have been one or two changes to the town since our last festival in 1984; the cattle market has shifted to a site on the town’s edge and a large supermarket has taken its place. Leominster now boasts a new Tourist Information Centre at 6 School Lane, which has had an ever-increasing stream of visitors since it opened its doors.

The large sports complex at the rear of the Minster School is scheduled to open later this year and should prove a real asset to the town.

July 10th marks the official opening of the Community Association in School Road, which houses a Resource Centre and Arts Workshop, a Citizen’s Advice Bureau, a Volunteer’s Service and an all-day Nursery.

This souvenir programme is a new venture-one which we hope will prove popular. Thanks must go to all who have supported us with advertising and especially those who have assisted us with sponsorship. The Festival is a nonprofit- making event which takes place with financial assistance from the West Midlands Arts Council and many other local firms and private individuals, together with many fund-raising events organised by the Leominster Festival Committee, which have made this project possible.

Now to the programme itself!

After many months of discussion and negotiation it began to take shape. Our aim was, hopefully, to provide events of interest to all sections of the community during Festival fortnight.

This year we’ve held the first Poetry Competition which has attracted hundreds of entries in three categories — 8-11 years, 11-16 years, 16+. It is hoped to present the prizes and read the winning entries on the evening of “Words and Music” at Dinmore Manor on Sunday June 15th. The judges of the competition are all writers with close links in the area: poet, Thony Handy, Jenny Green of Presteigne, and Nicky Daws from Hereford.

There are several other firsts for the Festival in ‘86 - a Ceilidh featuring a very exciting electric folk-rock band, Pyewackett on Friday June 20th. They begin at 9pm allowing time for those wishing to attend a concert of Indian music before it, played by one of the foremost sitarists, Dharambir Singh.

It’s not hard to highlight one special event during the Festival; an evening of words, songs and music with Richard Baker accompanied on the piano by Raphael Terroni.

The committee are proud to present the British debut of celebrity ‘cellist, Cecylia Barczyk — and recommend booking tickets early for this prestigious event at Croft Castle, as numbers will be limited.

There’s plenty to please the younger audiences wth two rock concerts, all the fun of sideshows on Craft Fair Day, magic, Punch and Judy, mime, a circus skills workshop and kitemaking to name but a few.

On June 16th the Film Society are putting on a double-film feature. “Gremlins” for the children’s showing at 6pm, and “The Shooting Party” at 8pm. Directed by Alan Bridges, this 1984 film portrays James Mason in his last screen performance heading an impressive all-star cast.

We’ve drama, choral singing, jazz, folk, an antiques roadshow, art exhibitions and lectures, old time music hall, cabaret, ballet, a talent competition . . . quite an impressive list, so read on and enjoy.

The Festival Committee hope you’ll have a memorable fortnight at the 1986 Festival and come back for more in 1988!

Events by Date

Date	Events
Friday 6th June 1986	Rock Concert Featuring The Hurricanes and a disco
Saturday 7th June 1986	Craft Fair Including a full programme of open-air entertainment Open-Air Rock Concert On The Grange The Lucas Wind Ensemble Including Rossinni, Mozart and J Strauss
Sunday 8th June 1986	Festival Service Everyone is welcome at The Priory Church Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra With works from Mendelssohn, Dukas, Haydn and Beethoven
Monday 9th June 1986	An Evening with David Nobbs Author of "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" Amateur Talent Competition For adults and children resident in the Leominster Area
Tuesday 10th June 1986	Olde Tyme Music Hall with Pinsley Little Theatre
Wednesday 11th June 1986	Song and Dance at the Court of Elizabeth I with Aldwyn Consort of Voices, Passamezzo Early Dance Group and Early Music Consort of Leominster Folk Music Evening All singers and musicians welcome
Thursday 12th June 1986	Schools Concert Grand Finale to an afternoon of fun and music at Leominster Junior School
Friday 13th June 1986	The Amati Piano Trio Performing popular favourites by Elgar, Strauss, Kreisler and Offenbach Pete Barnard Jazz and Booze Band A jazz party at the Royal Oak Hotel
Saturday 14th June 1986	Workshop for Children Circus Skills Two workshop sessions with Richard Ward Richard Baker Entertains Words, songs and music with Raphael Terroni at the piano
Sunday 15th June 1986	An Evening of Words and Music with Julian Robbins and John Howell
Monday 16th June 1986	Film Evening Gremlins and The Shooting Party
Tuesday 17th June 1986	Leominster Drama Group presents The Lion in Winter by James Goldman Blakes 3 A Country and Western night
Wednesday 18th June 1986	Leominster Drama Group presents The Lion in Winter by James Goldman Cecylia Barczyk In her British concert debut
Thursday 19th June 1986	Illustrated Art Lecture by Cecily Sash: Director of The Granary School of Painting Late Night Caberet Mrs and Mr Liewellyn (featuring the astounding Bunk Dogger)
Friday 20th June 1986	Dharambir Singh in Concert A sitar player of the Vilayat Khan style Ceilidh with Pyewackett Playing pop music from the last five centuries
Saturday 21st June 1986	Workshop for Children Kites Workshop with John Liddell The Ballet Co. Nutcracker and The Mouse King
Sunday 22nd June 1986	Local History Tour The Architecture of Leominster Leominster Choral Society The Messiah by G F Handel
Art Exhibitions
Throughout June 1986	Museum Exhibition The works of local artist John Scarlett Davis (1804 - 1845)
Saturday 7th - Sunday 22nd June 1986	Leominster Photographic Club Annual Exhibition In the Library, South Street
Wednesday 11th - Sunday 22nd June 1986	Children's Art Exhibition Contributed by children of all ages in the Leominster area
Sunday 15th - Sunday 22nd June 1986	The Granary Gallery Exhibition of work by the pupils of Cecily Sash
Other Events
	Croft Castle Open for visitors throughout the Festival Poetry Competition In three age groups: Up to 11 years, 11-16 years and 16+

Fringe Events

There is no mention of fringe events in the programme this year and so we have no record of what may or may not have taken place.

Thanks

From the programme of events...

The festival would not be possible without the support and encouragement of many individuals and organisations. The financial support given in the past two years by Leominster Town Council has been most encouraging and I am happy to say that this year the Leominster District Council has also given us both financial and practical help. Without this help, and the support of West Midland Arts, it is doubtful whether a festival of two weeks of music, drama and the arts could take place in Leominster. But I must add to that our appreciation of the support given by the Friends of the Festival, businesses large and small, and the goodwill and generosity of the whole community which attends our concerts, jumble sales, dances, or whaLever fund-raising events we hold.

Peter Holliday Chairman of Leominster Festival Committee

Friends of the Festival

From the programme of events...

For a minimum annual subscription of £2 — you can become a Friend of the Festival. This allows one a 10% reduction off all tickets booked. Additional discounts are available depending on the number of events booked in advance through the Box Office do Tourist Information Centre, 6 School Lane, Leominster.

Friends receive advanced notice of events and newsletters. If you would like to become a Friend please contact the Treasurer: Chris Sansom, xxxxxx, Hereford Road, Leominster. Tel: 0568 xxxx.

The Committee is always grateful for offers of help — we need all the support we can get. If you are in any way interested do come to our A.G.M. on Friday, 19th September at 7.30pm in the Regency Room, Royal Oak Hotel.

Assistence and Sponsorship

From the programme of events...

The Leominster Festival Society acknowledges with thanks the assistance and sponsorship of:

Leominster District Council - Priory Capella

Leominster Town Council - Leominster Inner Wheel

Leominster Rotary Club - Lloyds Bank

Staffordshire Building Society - Stooke Hill & Co.

Russell, Baldwin & Bright - F. H. Dale

Beaumont, Smith & Davies - H. R. Smith

National Westminster Bank - Cadbury Schweppes

Hereford and Worcester County Council - Jacksons

J. Harper & Sons Ltd - R. and R. Caldicott

Midland Bank - Barclays Bank

Leominster Ladies Circle

The Festival Committee wishes to thank the Clergy of the Priory Church and the Parochial Church Council for the generous use of the buildings.

This event takes place with financial assistance from West Midlands Arts and many other local firms and private individuals, together with fund raising events organised by the Leominster Festival Committee which made this project possible.