Report of Chair of Trustees to AGM – 22 November 2022
I hope that you felt, as I did, that it was wonderful to have the Festival back again this year, after a three year gap.
It was lovely to see the village hall full of local art again, to have the musicians back with us and to be able to welcome them into our homes, and of course to listen to their superb performances. For me, the performance of the slow movement from Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto, with David Gordon as the soloist, in memory of Mary Ryan who founded our Festival and ran it for so many years, was a particularly memorable moment from a very successful week.
This year, we limited the musical performances to three days, following on from the festival evensong on the Tuesday evening, while we found our feet again after the three year gap, and in view of continuing uncertainty associated with the Covid 19 pandemic. Would audiences be ready to come out again – FOGO – Fear of Going Out – having been replaced for some by HOGO – Hassle of Going Out. And at the time we were planning it, there was always the possibility that we would have to cancel it, if Covid restrictions were reimposed.
In the event, we did very well on ticket sales, and so we have been greatly encouraged to plan for a full week’s Festival next year. The musical events will take place from Sunday 13[th] August to Friday 18[th] August – I hope you have the dates in your diaries.
Unlike many local Festivals, ours is run, locally, entirely by unpaid volunteers: only the professional musicians receive any remuneration. And because we try to look after them well, they enjoy coming, and charge us, I think, less than the professional going rate.
I am grateful to whole range of people. The musicians, of course, and the artists.
The six trustees who are ultimately responsible for the running of the Festival and of the charity.
The trustees delegate the practical running of things to two committees – one that organises the musical events, led by Jenny
Malyon. And one that organises the art Exhibition, led by Wendy Hart.
Thank you to them, and to all the volunteers who do stuff – catering, accommodation, finances, ticket sales, arranging the church, manning the art exhibition, arranging sponsorship. And I am sure I have missed some out.
Thank you to Revd Jane Williams for allowing us not only to use the church, but also to Jane and Nigel for generously allowing us to use the Rectory for rehearsals and their garden, and this year, their wedding marquee, for lunch after the lunch time concert. And to the Village Hall Committee for allowing us to take over the Hall for the week.
Thank you to sponsors – and particularly to Alan Williams – our main sponsor – and to you, the Friends – not only for your subscriptions and donations, but also for your general support, which is a great encouragement to us.
Finally, from me, I should like to pay brief tribute to Mike Southgate, who sadly died on 25[th] September. A number of us here were among the many who attended the Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Mike’s life, which was held in the village church on 4th November. Mike did all sorts of distinguished things in his long life, nationally, internationally, and, in his latter years, all sorts of roles here in Burton Bradstock.
For us, Mike was the main pillar of the Festival for many years. From supporting Mary Ryan in the early days, he went on to be the organiser of the Festival and, more recently, the Chairman of the Trustees, a role from which he stepped down only in 2019. Mike would turn his hand to absolutely anything that needed doing, and had the rare capacity to be equally at home on his hands and knees building a stage, or sitting back and providing wise strategic direction for the Festival’s future. And always with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. There is no doubt that there would not be a Festival today without the years of commitment that Mike provided, and he will be very much missed.
Thank you to everyone, and I am happy to try to answer any questions if there are any.
David Jenkins Chair of the Festival Trustees
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