Green Days fete opened by actor Andy Nyman as the sun shone
Andy Nyman pictured with Father Kevin of SMAA
The Bedford Park Festival’s annual Green Days weekend got off to a great start this Saturday (8 June) with crowds turning out to support the event on Acton Green, and the rain kept away. The fete continues Sunday, followed by the Bedford Park Festival for the next two weeks.
The official opening of Green Days was carried out by actor Andy Nyman, who took time to support the event, out of his busy schedule. He is currently starring in Fiddler on the Roof, (directed by Trevor Nunn), in the West End.
Andy spoke of how he feels very close to the musical's character Tevye, as a result of his own ancestry. His great-grandparents on his maternal side fled Poland and settled in Leeds in 1905, the same year Fiddler is set, while his ancestors on his father’s side left the Lithuanian shtetls of Kovna and Vilna a few years earlier.
After he left Green Days he had to travel to central London to perform in the afternoon matinee as well as the evening performance. Torin Douglas thanked Andy for coming to support the festival.
The Fancy Dress Parade then took place, followed by music from the Brent Jazz Orchestra, a show from the Arts Ed Saturday Skills academy, and a host of other local talent.
The weekend attracts thousands of people of all ages and includes a bandstand with live music and entertainment, fairground rides and games, food & drink, a craft fair with 20 exhibitors offering a wide selection of high-quality craftworks, and many different types of stalls and competitions. The craft stalls were showcasing talent from jewellery making to upholstery, lots of local food on offer, from cakes to honey, and gin cocktails from Sipsmiths to name but a few.
The Summer Art Exhibition with over 100 works by local artists of all ages, and Bedford Park Photographic Exhibition and Competition are also underway in St Michael's Church across the road.
Performers from Ballet For Life
New to the festival this year is the 'Antiques Roadshow' style valuations stall. Liz Winnicott and general valuer Toby Roberts of Chiswick Auctions will take a look at any pieces that local residents hope might be of value on Sunday 9 June(from 12 noon to 4pm).
“We get terrific support from local businesses and many of them really feel part of the community in Chiswick” said Douglas. “Trotters and Disney sponsor the Fancy Dress competition and the Turnham Green Terrace Treasure Hunt; Whitman & Co supports the Cycle Zone and donates a bicycle to be raffled; Blue City and BMW will be showing their electric cars; and Home Instead Senior Care is again supporting the first aid service.
“Many local restaurants generously donate a meal for two to be raffled in our Win A Meal Competition, other companies donate prizes to the High Roller Tombola.”
Torin Douglas added; “People sometimes forget that after Green Days there’s a whole Festival fortnight of arts and community events – and our partners support those too. Horton and Garton sponsors the Artists at Home weekend, Thorgills sponsors the Bedford Park Open Gardens and Walk, and Hubbard Pegman & Whitney supports the Serenade & Supper. Killik & Co will sponsor Kevin McNally’s conversation with Susannah Simons, Ballet4Life sponsors some of the concerts and there are many others. We also get terrific support from local media such as ChiswickW4.com, for which we’re very grateful!”
The Bedford Park Festival is run by St Michael & All Angels Church, supported by dozens of local people and businesses. It was set up in 1967 to foster a sense of community, celebrate the arts, and raise money for urgent repairs to the Church. Since then it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities.
See www.bedfordparkfestival.org for full event and booking details.
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June 9, 2019
