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Thousands of people - including many
celebrities - enjoyed the "Village Green" atmosphere
at the 36th annual Green Days fete in Bedford Park, Chiswick -
the opening event of the two-week Bedford Park Festival.
Among the local celebrities there with their families were actors
Kevin McNally, Phyllis Logan, Colin Firth and Elizabeth McGovern,
as well as the distinguished artist Peter Blake - celebrating
a knighthood in Saturday morning's Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours
list. And on the Sunday, during the children's Pop Idol contest,
there was a surprise appearance from one of the real Pop Idol
judges, Nicky Chapman.
Kevin McNally - seen recently in Spooks and Shackleton - opened
the Festival on Saturday morning, and then judged the Children's
Fancy Dress Competition with the vicar of St Michael & All
Angels Church, Father Kevin Morris. This year's fancy dress theme
was "Jubilee" and there were many inspired costumes.
The prizewinners were:
Infants
1st: Stella Wharmby (4) as Flower Jubilee
2nd: Cy Copponex (4) as Jubilee Dinosaur
3rd: Charlotte Timmons (1) as Fairy Princess
Juniors
1st: Alex Timmons (6) as Jubilee King
2nd: Zach High (6) as Edward VI
3rd: Maisie Preston (6) as Jubilee Queen Elizabeth
Seniors
1st: Jasmine Wharmby (10) as Jubilee Reminder
2nd: Gus Halford (7) as Street Party
3rd: Gus High (7) as George of Hanover.
Prizes were also presented for the Turnham Green Terrace Treasure
Hunt, also on the Jubilee theme, sponsored by Faron Sutaria. Children
had to spot all the kings and queens in the shop windows and then
say who was their favourite monarch and why. 19 children correctly
spotted all the kings and queens and the most popular monarch
was Henry VIII. The winner of the first prize - a trip to the
Children's BBC studios - was Olivia Shotton (7) of St Mary's School.
Her favourite king was Edward VI "because he was only nine
years old when he became king".
The runners-up were: Helena Bickley (10) from Southfield Primary
School (Elizabeth I - because she defeated the Armada and made
the country great.); Alex Gronmark, (8) from Latymer Prep School
(Alfred - because he burnt the cakes like Mummy.); Arthur Lawrence
(11) from Southfield Primary School (Henry VIII - because he married
a lot and chopped his wives' heads off.); Emma Tritton (7) from
Orchard House School (Elizabeth II - because she doesn't chop
off heads.); and Matthew Walsh (3) from Caterpillar Nursery School
(Edward VII - because he had a nice suit on.)
Another highlight was the Junior 5-a-side Football Competition,
sponsored by the estate agents Bushells. The winning team - for
the fourth year in a row - were the White Devils, from Cathnor
Park youth club in Shepherds Bush. In the final, they beat The
Dark Warriors, from Belmont Primary School. The third place went
to Lat-mer United, who beat the Ramillies Revengers in the play-off.
There was live music from the Band Stand all Saturday afternoon,
from Green Days regular local performers - Bassett & the All
Sorts, a traditional Swing band, and then No. 1 Station, a ska,
rocksteady and reggae band.
Other attractions included a Funfair, with a selection of rides,
including dodgems and Bouncy Castle; a Craft Marquee; the Fletchers
beer tent; and sideshows, including a Skittle Alley, Champagne
lottery and Coconut Shy.
At Sunday lunchtime, children came to the fore again with the
results of their Cake Decorating Competition, a performance by
the young Chiswick rock band Shattered, and the Pop Idol contest
on the Band Stand, hosted by BBC correspondent Torin Douglas.
Almost a dozen kids took to the stage, performing a series of
hits by stars ranging from Abba and Britney Spears to the Bee
Gees.
The winners of the cake competition were Randall Lindsell and
Alex Gronmark. The winners of Pop Idol were Imogen Wilson (8),
who sang along to Have You Ever, and another Imogen (6), who danced
to Staying Alive.
Green Days marked the start of the annual two-week Bedford Park
Festival, with its kaleidoscope of events from house concerts
to 'open gardens'; from demonstrations to lectures, and the ever
popular Summer Art Exhibition and Photographic Exhibition. All
events are open to the public, though some require tickets to
be bought in advance from the festival Box Office (020 8994 1380).
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