Record-breaking show is jazz-tastic

WARGRAVE Festival has lived up to its theme of “gold fever” with a series of glittering events.

The biennial festival, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year, will finish this weekend after three weeks of entertainment, including musical and theatrical performances, sporting challenges and family events.

The celebrations will climax with the Golden Ticket Ball tonight (Friday), the village fete and parade tomorrow and a big band show and community barbecue on Sunday.

One of the most popular shows was Jazz on a Summer’s Night, which had sold out within 24 hours of the tickets going on sale.

This was the 17th time the riverside concert has taken place since it began in 1989.

“It was tremendous,” said Tim Hodges, who organised it. “We had more than 250 people and some said it was one of the best concerts that they had ever been to.

“I just think it had lots of good things about it. The format has been the same since I started it in 1989. It is quite relaxed and people bring picnics and their own beer and wine.

“All the acts who were playing were at the top of their game.”

The performers were Thane and the Villeins, featuring Henley saxophonist Art Themen, organist Pete Whittaker and drummer George Double. There was also music from Denny Ilett on guitar and vocals and Martin Shaw, who played the trumpet.

Mr Hodges, a photographer, who lives in High Street, said: “I like to bring jazz to Wargrave.

“It is sometimes considered an old man’s genre of music but I believe in bringing modern jazz and I really like it.

“Generally speaking, we do get a great number of young people coming along and they are surprised at how good the music is. The concert has proved to be immensely popular and is always a sell-out. This year was the fastest I have seen it sell.”

The show raised £2,100 of which £1,500 will be donated to the Henley Debt Centre with the rest going to the Wargrave Festival Charity.

Mr Hodges added: “I have lived in Wargrave since 1976 and I have seen the festival evolve. The big difference is it was not quite so large back then but it has always been a lovely event to bring the whole community together.”

The festival has also included an Ibiza Club Classics night, which featured DJ sets from Si Macc and Paul “Oli” Oakenfold and music from the last five decades.

The proceeds will go to Robert Piggott Infant and Junior Schools’ parent-teacher association.

Villager Simon Warren organised the Pub on the Green party on Mill Green for which 550 tickets were sold.

There was live music, gourmet food from South Africa called braai, craft beers from the Rebellion Beer Company and a rodeo bull machine for the revellers to ride and try to stay on.

Other events included Shakespeare on the Green, gin and rum tasting, a safari supper, Saturday Night Fever, the Wargrave Bike Festival and Family Sports Day, literary readings and an art workshop.

The Golden Ticket Ball will feature a three-course meal and live music from a band called Alibi. The fete will be opened by TV personality Debbie McGee, who lives in the village.

It will feature classic and retro games including hook-a-duck, a coconut shy, hoopla and whack-a-mole as well as a “soak a festival committee member” stall.

She will also lead the festival parade from Victoria Road to St Mary’s Church in Station Road, starting at 1.15pm.

McGee will also compère the Wargrave’s Got Talent contest, which takes place on Saturday evening.

A total of 5,500 festival tickets were sold.

Ally Holloway, lead organiser, said: “This is the second festival I have helped organise and I feel immensely proud to be part of this awesome team of hardworking, generous people.

“The festival committee is like an extended family. We spend so much time together in the lead-up to the festival, very often in daily contact.

“We all chip in, while keeping up our day jobs, to set up and manage events.

“Being born in the same year as the inaugural festival in 1975, I understand the significance of its 50th anniversary. I consider it an honour to be involved.

“I have a deep affection for Wargrave and I feel fortunate to have played a small role in the large group of individuals that have made this festival what it is today.”