Photographs with kind permission of Paul Key, Kath Richardson and Jan Jones
Despite a lot of wishing, hoping and praying, we had persistent rain falling on the Brentford Festival for the
first time in 7 years. Starting 15 minutes before the Mayor of Hounslow, Cllr Amrit Mann, The Mayor of Ealing,
Cllr John Gallagher and the Mayoress of Ealing, Mrs Pauline Melson, departed from Boston Manor House on Lenny
the land train - to officially open the Festival on the main stage - the rain fell heavily until about 3 p.m.
A huge amount of
time and effort is invested by the volunteer organising committee and helpers on the day, so we were a little
saddened by the weather - but not for long. The crowds soon started to trickle through, armed with umbrellas,
raincoats and wellies and the sad scene improved with the arrival of our dedicated followers. The sun eventually
appeared and, by 5 p.m., was shining happily down, as the numbers of visitors swelled every minute.
We would like to thank Cllr Mann, Cllr Gallagher and Mrs Melson for attending BF2011; thanks must also go to all
those volunteers who helped before, during and after the festival, to our
Festival Sponsors, our
Festival Partners and, of course, to all those who came to join in with this community event. Seeing
you all enjoying yourselves, with or without the rain, makes the effort worthwhile. For that reason, we have
taken the opportunity to include feedback emails and photos we have received following BF2011 on this page and hope
you will take time to read and look at them.
Boston Manor Park looked as beautiful and well kept as ever, so we must thank Continental Landscapes for their
consistently good work in maintaining the park, as well as their help and support for the Festival, with particular
thanks to Tony Keaveney's team. Boston Manor Park was awarded the Green Flag for excellence for the 7th time
in 2011.
We even managed to make use of the M4 motorway (which we have spent considerable amounts of time and effort in
covering up), as it provided an excellent shelter from the rain for our visitors; so something good comes out
of everything in the end!
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"RAINED ON BUT NOT WASHED OUT
Dear Ms Massey,
I really have to write and congratulate you on another well organised and hugely successful Brentford Festival 2011.
What a fabulous day!
No amount of rain could dampen the enthusiasm that this event inspires.
I braved the rain and stayed for 5 hours, by which time the rain had abated, but faces were shining long before the rain was chased away.
I spoke to stallholders who laughed at the wind and rain's feeble attempt to spoil the day.
And what a range of stalls! Cakes, jewellery, books, plants, food, crafts, facepainting, information stalls.
I found out that a worm has 5 hearts, that there are plans to clean our canal and develop Gunnersbury Park, about a new cycle shop, recycling and local events.
Most important I was reminded of our wonderful community spirit.
Recent riots had not beaten this community and we were not going to be beaten by a bit of water.
People "wellied up" and turned up in their hundreds. Like me people who appreciated the months of hard work and dedication that has so obviously gone into organising this event.
We were deternimed to support the people who had made this happen.
My friend-who I had persuaded to cycle to the event in the rain- and I decided that being soaked on the outside we needed to redress the balance and whet our whistles.
A generous tumbler of Pimms, for an amazing £3, what a bargain, did the trick.
The cake selection was wondrous. I ate white chocolate and malteeser cheesecake in the rain. It was so good I would have eaten it in a monsoon!
The rain stopped in time to allow the Hanwell Carnival Red Barrows to do their stuff, which was to drive off any last vestiges of cloud that dared intrude on this marvellous day.
Their brilliant display was so funny fabulous and eccentric and drew crowds who laughed and cheered until the sun shone.
Families, friends, groups, people from the community and beyond were determined to support this great event. This had obviously been so meticulously organised that even the most determinded efforts of the elements could not dampen this day.
The bands played through the rain to an appreciative audience who cheered and danced
I don't even particularly like rock music, but I rocked on in the mud such was the infectious atmosphere. This wasn't Glastonbury, but it was pretty close.
When we left at 5.30 crowds were still lingering to make the most of the last vestiges of this wonderful day.
This was my fourth year attending the Brentford Festival and I plan to support it for many years to come.
I am so proud to have this in my community
Well done!
Please pass my praise and thanks to the organisers, stall holders and anyone involved in organising this wonderfull event.
Long may you reign-but not be rained on.
Isabel McG
Local Resident"
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