CHEERS! REAL ALE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL PROVES A HIT

The Elford Hall Garden’s first Real Ale and Music Festival was a resounding success in every respect.

Even Mother Nature played ball as an unpromising morning turned into a lovely afternoon and evening and the sell-out crowd was able to enjoy the entertainment, food and drink in mainly dry and sunny conditions.

And when it did start to rain later in the evening, most of the acts had played

and almost all the food and drink had

been consumed.

That included 15 barrels of real ale, 400 burgers 15 kilos of sausage 259 cream teas and a hog roast.

Children's activities, which were free, included painting,croquet, boules, other games and a session with Sophie Snell, a story teller.

Meanwhile, the music, which started with Tom Cadman and friends in mid-afternoon and concluded with Ash when darkness had fallen, was as varied as it was entertaining.

Many artists agreed to play for free and among the many who wowed the crowd were the Lichfield Lighthouse Company, who sang sea shanties, Offbeat, an acoustic folk band, and female duo the Ptarmigans.

Proceeds from the event, which were boosted by a raffle, will be used to continue the restoration of the garden and plant trees around the inside of its perimeter wall.

Commenting on the event, festival organiser Dick Cowley said: “All in all it was a day with a superb atmosphere.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and there was no hint of any sort of trouble whatsoever.

“Our thanks also go to St Johns Ambulance who were at the event, the local police who checked in on it and the volunteers and helpers who put in a lot of hard work to make it possible.

“It is hoped  that this will be the first of many music events in the garden.”

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