Month: January 2017

Selection Spectacular

Posted on by whitfestival

A huge 103round of applause for Alex Johnson rounded off a glittering afternoon’s entertainment on a village hall stage transformed by creative use of voile & lighting and featuring talented young performers in an impressive variety of roles.

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor & Mayoress of the City of Preston, Councillor John Collins & Mrs Mary Dade, to witness the selection of Festival Queen Elect Miss Niamh Quigg and enjoy our legendary Goosnargh hospitality. Tom Ibison, Festival Honorary President reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Alex himself paid tribute to his fellow Musical Theatre Students at Preston’s College, Head Anne Markland and Tutor Michael Cosgrove, and to the Staff & Pupils of Goosnargh Oliverson’s and St Francis’ Catholic Primary Schools for endless hours of rehearsals which well and truly paid off on the day.

The College performers sang, danced and acted with impressive conviction and a terrific sense of performance and our Primary Schools offered a fantastic array of instrumental music & song with over 50 youngsters taking part – all a real credit to their teachers.

A very special feature of this year’s event, certainly a first for Goosnargh, was a skilful and beautifully choreographed Aerial Hoop routine created for us by Hannah & Grace Chadwick.

This year’s Festival, set to take place on Saturday, June 3rd, is dedicated to the late Tom Kirby who did so much to support the Festival both through his role at Barton Grange and through his membership of Longridge & North Preston Rotary. We were very pleased to welcome Tom’s daughter Helen Roberts and Guy Topping from Barton Grange as we launched the 2017 Festival Year. Guy is to present a new award, The Tom Kirby Rosebowl, to the Festival Queen on Festival Day.

Helen and Alan Roberts will judge the Fancy Dress section230 of the Festival and Guy and Carol Topping the Decorated Floats before Guy also presents a brand new Barton Grange Float Trophy.

Thank you to all who supported Alex so well. We were exceptionally well supplied with delicious cakes & scones, raffle prizes, helpers and, most importantly, a very appreciative audience to encourage our young stars of the future.

More photos here.

Happy New Year!

Posted on by whitfestival

Festival 2017 breaking News!

Sunday January 29th is the date to remember if you or someone you know would like to be Festival Queen 2017.

We are delighted to be working with students from Preston’s College once more for our Selection Day event; an extravaganza of song & dance featuring our own talented Primary School pupils as well as the College’s aspiring Musical Theatre Performers.

Candidates to be Queen should arrive at the Village Hall to register before the concert, between 1.00 and 2.00pm. Registration is open to High School Pupils resident in the Parishes of Goosnargh and Whittingham and please note that these Parishes cover a huge area including Whitechapel and Bleasdale, check out the maps on the Festival Queen page. Please note that a Parent or Guardian must accompany each candidate. Festival Queen 2016 Roisin Quigg will select her successor during the interval of the concert.

We would like to invite the Community to come along on Sunday 29th January at 2.30pm to enjoy a fabulous showcase of local talent and to celebrate the selection of our new Festival Queen in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of the City of Preston.

This year’s Festival is to have a very special focus. On behalf of Barton Grange, Guy Topping is to present a new award, The Tom Kirby Award, to be held by the Festival Queen during the year of her reign. This is to acknowledge the very special part played by Tom in supporting the Festival and the high esteem in which he was held at Barton Grange. In addition Guy will renew the Decorated Float Trophy which Tom presented on behalf of Barton Grange many years ago. We look forward to welcoming Helen Roberts, Tom’s daughter, along with her husband and as many family members as possible to share this Festival Day with us.

The theme for the Festival is: FLOWER POWER!

Festival Day is Saturday 3rd June