PRESS

Concert ticket sales launch at sponsors Guy Salmon Land Rover on 25th April

Press photographer in action at the ticket launch

Honorary Wakefield Rotarian Sir Rodney Walker is seen receiving the first ticket from festival organiser Sue Parkin.

On the front row there are also two pupils of City of Wakefield High School and Ken Pinder (festival marketing co-ordinator). Looking on (back row) are Geoff North (festival media relations), John Cholewa (QEGS), Phil Butterfield (City of Wakefield High School), Matthew Hodges (singer), John Hummerstone (organising committee) and Richard Edge (festival logistics chairman).

Press release to the Rotary district magazine Rotary in the Ridings 5th January 2008

Arts festival takes over

as the big fundraiser

PUBLICITY is building up for the Wakefield club's major project for 2008 - an arts festival involving hundreds of local children.

The city's local paper, the Wakefield Express, is taking a keen interest in developments and, after earlier pieces on the event, ran a major article in the new year.

The newspaper reported how the one-day festival will replace Wakefield Rotary's main annual fundraising event - the May Bank Holiday gala in Thornes Park - which was axed by the club last year because of new health and safety rules, time-consuming paperwork and, above all, spiralling costs.

Children from primary, secondary and private schools as well as adult groups will perform at the festival on Saturday, July 5, at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. The event will be opened by Wakefield businessman Sir Rodney Walker, an honorary member of Wakefield Rotary Club.

Performances will be given by instrumental groups and choirs and there will be art exhibitions during the day. The event will end in the evening with a concert by The Big Chris Barber Band.

Wakefield vice-president Sue Parkin, originator of the idea for a Rotary festival, told the Wakefield Express: "We are confident it will raise a lot more money than the gala and it is proving to be such a popular idea that there is scope to make it a three-day event in 2009."

The team organising the festival includes the club's ways and means chairman, Richard Edge, who is seeking sponsorship from businesses in Wakefield and the surrounding district.