Welcome to Leominster Festival, whether you are a seasoned campaigner or are joining us for the first time – welcome!

Leominster Festival was inaugurated in 1980 around a performance by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, who have been an essential part of the Festival and the Leominster scene ever since, and we are delighted to welcome them back again this year.

As usual, we have a mixture of events and, hopefully, there will be something appealing to everyone. The Anne Rutherford Memorial Art Exhibition, which will be on view to the public for several weeks, starts off the Festival proper with its private view for sponsors and supporters.

By popular request, Simon Deeley and his Trio will be performing again during their lunch time event at which lunch will be provided. We look forward to some close harmony from our Welsh male voice choir, and learning more about 17th century London from Samuel Pepys on his first visit to Leominster.

Tony Geraghty, local ex-soldier and war correspondent for The Times, amongst other pursuits, will enlighten us about his past and indeed more recent experiences since moving to Herefordshire, and the ever popular Tony Norman will lead a small band of intrepid walkers on a short expedition in the Arrow Valley.

A tour of Powis Castle and gardens is on offer, and later in the week a chance to hear a local group of young musicians when the Leominster & District Junior String Orchestra entertain us in Leominster Priory. This will be followed by a concert by Pindrop, acoustic musicians playing many different styles of music without the aid of huge amplification, which should be very interesting and most enjoyable.

As tradition demands, the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra perform the last concert to provide a fitting end to what we hope will be an entertaining Festival.

Donald Millar
Chairman