Peter Holliday of Buckfield Road, Leominster says it's a sad end to great local arts event (From Hereford Times)

Peter Holliday of Buckfield Road, Leominster says it's a sad end to great local arts event

8:00am Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Letters

AFTER a memorable concert given by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra in Leominster's magnificent Priory Church on June 11, the chairman of Leominster Festival Committee, Don Millar, announced that this would be the last festival in its present form.

A sad day indeed. The first festival was in 1980 and those 32 years have brought a host of star performers to the town.

I remember Julian Lloyd Webber, Marisa Robles, Heather Harper, Michala Petri, Tony Benn, Brian Sewell, Evelyn Glennie, George Melly, Sir Sidney Nolan, Lord Croft, Jim Tonkin, Mick Casson, the Medici and Coull String Quartets, The City Waites, and many, many others.

There were evenings of Indian classical music, Tibetan monks, jazz, folk, and pop concerts, Shakespeare and other drama, talks, poetry and piano recitals.

An art exhibition always ran throughout the festival and for some years a craft fair was held on the Grange, with up to 100 stalls and featuring steel bands, brass bands, childrens games – a whole day’s entertainment. There were regular performances by Leominster Choral Society and of course the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra.

The festival also nurtured local talent and schools workshops and concerts.

So, huge thanks to the festival committee and all the people (all volunteers) who over the years have given their time, expertise and energy to bring such wonderful events to the town. June will never be the same again.

PETER HOLLIDAY, Buckfield Road, Leominster.