The 46th Bedford Park Festival June 16-July 1 2012
The 2012 Bedford Park Festival starts with
Green Days weekend on Saturday June 16th and Sunday 17th. It will end on Sunday July 1st, with the Festival Mass (right) and Bedford Park Open Gardens. Watch here and ChiswickW4.com for the latest details of this year's Festival.
This year's charities: are: the Upper Room, which supports the needy in west London, Hamlin Fistula UK, which provides medical help for women in Ethiopia; and CEDARS, a youth charity in Chiswick. The Festival will also raise money for St Michaels' new Organ and Parish Rooms Appeal.
Diamond Jubilee theme for this year's Festival
There’s to be a special Diamond Jubilee theme at this year’s Festival. It 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 Jubilee costumes (right), with winners dressed as kings, queens and a street party. 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 3rd , followed by a Big Jubilee Lunch in the open air, outside the Parish Hall.
How would you like to be involved in the Festival?
We're inviting people to take part in lots of events
- Singers for the Festival Mass on Sunday July 1st. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays, 9pm to 10pm, from 22nd May. Contact Jonathan Dods: jondods@yahoo.com
- Photographers for the Photographic Competition and Exhibition. Entries close on June 25th. Details here and entry forms here.
- Gardens for the Bedford Park Open Gardens. Would you like to open your garden? Details from Carol Douglas - caroldouglas111@aol.com - and on ChiswickW4.com.
- Marmalade-makers. Pick up a competition entry form from Marmalade Jewellery in Turnham Green Terrace. First prize is a voucher to be spent at Marmalade. And please also donate a jar to our cake stall (see below).
- Knitters. Blankets are wanted for our new charity Hamlin Fistula UK, which helps women with medical problems in Ethiopia. Read about this year's three charities, and download the knitting pattern
here.
Events for children and young people
- 5-a-side Football - four competitions on Green Days weekend (June 16th and 17th) for children aged from under-18 to 14. Enquiries to Chris Gaseltine: chrisgaseltine@btconnect.com Details and entry forms now available in church and here.
- Fancy dress parade on Saturday June 16th: the theme is Jubilee.
- Bedford Park's Got Talent on Sunday 17th. Details from Bernadette Halford: b.halford@sky.com.
- BPF Shorts Film-making competition: to be judged by Simon Curtis, director of My Week With Marilyn: http://smaaa.org.uk/festival/BPFChildren.html
Help and donations
- Win a Meal. Which favourite local restaurants would you like to see donating meals for our Win a Meal competition? Contact Helen Simkin at helen@may.be, or invite them to get in touch.
- International Food Stall. Contributions of food please. Contact helen@may.be.
- High Roller Tombola needs unwanted gifts or items eg. wine & spirits, olive oil, smart toiletries, CD's & DVD's, tickets for the theatre etc. Contact Kim Parkash, kimparkash@gmail.com (020 8994 3252).
- Refreshments - helpers to sign up for 2 hour slots on Saturday and Sunday. Contact Sarah Main - sarah.main@rocketmail.com - or phone 0208 987 9236. Plus cakes (approx 8"): Victoria sponge, lemon, chocolate, coffee etc. fairy cakes, brownies etc.
- Cake stall also wants cakes, and marmalade. Contact: janedenton@virginmedia.com or 020 8994 0829. Please take them to the stall on Saturday June 16th or drop them off at church on Friday 15th.
- Toy stall needs good quality unwanted toys. Contact Barbara Marchant - barbm13@btinternet.com
- Plant stall - please grow or donate plants. Contact Carol Douglas - caroldouglas111@aol.com
- Publicity - help with website, posters, press contacts, social media. Contact torindouglas@aol.com.
Plus, in due course, books, bric-a-brac etc.
If you'd like to know how your firm can be involved as a sponsor or by donating goods or services, click here: Commercial opportunities at the Bedford Park Festival
Watch here for updates and see Festival leaflets for full information in late May 2012.
Follow events on Twitter @StMichaelsW4.
Further information from Torin Douglas at torindouglas@aol.com
Marmalade-making Competition: Green Days weekend 2012
The Bedford Park Festival kicked off five months early when almost 50 marmalade-makers came to Vivien Lloyd's January Masterclass at St Michael & All Angels, organised by Marmalade jewellery in Turnham Green Terrace, with support from Simon Griffiths of Whisk Cookshop in Devonshire Road. Vivien gave tips on competition-winning marmalade, and her new book sold out (though more copies will soon be on sale at Marmalade and Whisk Cook Shop). The evening raised £500 for the Festival good causes, through sales of tickets and Vivien's marmalade. You can read Vivien's blog, with pictures by David Beresford, here.
You can now pick up an entry form for this year's Green Days marmalade-making competition, including a voucher for free Seville oranges from Andreas Georghiou in Turnham Green Terrace and a discount voucher for equipment from Whisk. Entries close in May and the competition will be judged on the Saturday of Green Days weekend, on June 16th.
See photographs by David Beresford here.