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"Rudest
man in Britain" to open festival
Radio
4's John Humphrys, alternatively described as a national treasure,
will launch the Bedford Park Festival at the Green Days fete this
year
 One
of the stars of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, John Humphrys, will
take time off from grilling politicians to launch Bedford Park's
"village fete" in Chiswick next week. The Green Days fete
marks the start of the two-week Bedford Park Festival, with its
art and photographic exhibitions, concerts, talks, garden walks
and children's activities.
Humphrys, who lives locally, has been called a national treasure
and the rudest man in Britain. He has just been awarded a Gold Award
for his outstanding contribution to radio, and on TV is about to
become the interrogator on Mastermind. He'll be opening the Festival
at 11am on Saturday June 7th on Acton Green, opposite Turnham Green
tube station and St Michael & All Angels Church. The two-day
Green Days event offers attractions for all the family with a Children's
Fancy Dress Parade, dodgems, fairground rides, stalls, food, and
live entertainment.
There's a beer tent, a champagne lottery, and the ever-popular Win-a-Meal
Contest, with prizes of a free meal for two at dozens of local
restaurants. And the children's 5-a-side Football Tournament has
proved so popular that this year it's been extended into a second
day. This year's Festival also features many of Chiswick's professional
artists, musicians, directors and performers.
A painting of St Michael & All Angels Church, by the Royal Academician
William Bowyer, is the poster for the Summer Exhibition in the Church.
It will be raffled to raise money for this year's Festival charity
- the St Mary's Convent and Nursing Home Appeal.
The witty songs of Flanders & Swann will be performed at The
Last Night of the Festival by local singers and musicians, including
Father Kevin Morris, the vicar of St Michael's, which organises
the annual community event. The late Michael Flanders and his wife
Claudia lived in Bedford Park.
And the director Simon Curtis, who made the BBC's award-winning
David Copperfield and Man and Boy (filmed locally), will talk about
his career in theatre, film and TV. He's directed stars such as
Hugh Grant, Maggie Smith and John Malkovich and also cast Daniel
Radcliffe as the young Copperfield, paving the way for his subsequent
career as Harry Potter.
Top local musicians appearing in this year's Festival include the
leader of the London Mozart Players, David Juritz, performing in
the Summer Serenade; BBC Radio 3's Sandy Burnett, who'll not only
conduct Bach by Candlelight but also lead the Sandy Burnett Quartet
in an evening of Friday Night Jazz; and two ska-reggae bands who'll
perform in the open air on Green Days weekend, No. 1 Station and
Freetown, who were recently seen in a BBC Talent film on BBC1.
For
more details and a full Festival programme, contact the parish office
of St Michael & All Angels Church on 020 8994 1380, or visit
the Festival Website
May
23, 2003
The
Bedford Park Festival
Win
a meal in one of over 40 Chiswick restaurants
Radio
3 man makes Bach to Back performances
Getting
Crafty on Green Days
Hogwarts
in Turnham Green Terrace
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