Hucknall Today, UK
June 24 2004

Ten-day Byron Festival set to be best yet

ONE of the world’s most famous Byronists is due to visit Hucknall.

Former Labour Party leader Michael Foot is expected to attend a
final-day event at the seventh International Byron Festival.
This will be a service at Hucknall Parish Church to dedicate a
monument to the memory of former rector, Canon Fred Green.
The monument is made from a broken khatchkhar, an Armenian Christian
symbol.
Canon Green, affectionately known as Father Fred, gave strong
personal support to a friendship agreement between Hucknall’s Holgate
Comprehensive School and the Lord Byron School in Armenia.
The festival, described as ten days of family and community events in
tribute to Lord Byron, will run from next Friday (July 2) to Sunday
July 11.
Festival co-ordinator John Wilkinson said it was the most ambitious
so far with 35 attractions ranging from dancing to dinners, film to
flowers and talks to tours.
In a bid for greater involvement of young people, a six-hour open-air
rock concert will be held on Hucknall Market Place
Those festival stalwarts, writer Bill Studdiford and actor Ian Frost,
will present the world premiere of a play entitled ‘Extraordinary
Friends Byron and Shelley’, putting on two performances.
The new Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram system will play a part
in the festival, with the offer of a trip to Basford for a Thai meal,
while another innovation will be a charity fashion show.
At the annual Byron dinner, the guest speaker will be Edward Enfield,
father of comedian Harry Enfield, with a talk on ‘Byron And The Elgin
Marbles.’
While Hucknall Community Centre will be the scene of a ‘Fawlty Towers
Murder Mystery Night’ of the type once held at Newstead Abbey’s
former White Lady restaurant.
One of last year’s festival hits was an open-air production by the
Common Players on Hucknall Titchfield Park. They are back again to
perform ‘Robin Hood And The Sherwood Experience’ on the park and it
promises to be a family highlight, with the audience encouraged to
take picnics.
The famous 1949 movie, ‘The Bad Lord Byron’, which was filmed partly
in Hucknall and at Newstead Abbey, featuring Dennis Price in the
title role, will be shown at the new-look Byron Cineplex cinema
during the festival.
The festival is set to score a bullseye when a Byron Festival open
darts championship will be held for the first time, the venue being
the town’s Royal British Legion Social Club.
The very last event will be a ceremony to mark the official renaming
of Hucknall Community Centre in Ogle Street as the Lovelace Centre.
“We want a new name but we could not call it the Byron Centre because
that name has already been given to the nearby former Co-operative
building,” said Mr Wilkinson.
“As the community centre already houses the theatre, which is named
after Byron’s daughter, Ada, Countess of Lovelace, it is felt that
this would be an excellent alternative.”

THE FULL PROGRAMME
FRIDAY JULY 2
9.30 am – Traditional opening of the festival as a town crier strolls
through Hucknall town centre, including the Market Place.
7.30 pm – ‘Extraordinary Friends Byron and Shelley’, world premiere
of a play by Bill Studdiford, starring Ian Frost. What happened in
the six years Byron and Shelley knew each other? Lovelace Theatre,
Hucknall Community Centre £5/£4. For tickets and further information,
contact Maureen Crisp on 0115 9664367.
7.30 pm – ‘Nothing To Wear’, fashion show and sale of quality
clothing at crazy prices (in aid of Hope Lea Project), Central
Methodist Church, £3. Tickets from 150 Watnall Road or the committee.
SATURDAY JULY 3
12 midday – Bellringers of Hucknall Parish Church will ring a peal.
12 midday – Poached salmon and real ale lunch, including a glass of a
selection of festival ales, £4. Bookings in advance only by ringing
0115 9529303.
12 midday to 6 pm – Open-air rock concert, featuring some of the best
local bands, Hucknall Market Place. Free of charge.
7.30 pm – International concert. An evening of culture for all the
family, Hucknall Parish Church. Free of charge.
SUNDAY JULY 4
Annual open golf tournament for the Byron Cup, presented by Maureen
Crisp, at Leen Valley Golf Centre. For entry details, contact the
centre on 0115 9642037.
2.30 pm – ‘Chance To Dance’, a spectacular showcase from the students
of Hucknall-based Sarah Adamson School Of Dance, Lovelace Theatre,
£3.
2.30 pm – ‘Beppo’, a Venetian love story by Bill Studdiford, starring
Ian Frost. A chance to hear the delights of amorous adventures in
Venice, Newstead Abbey, £5/£4. For tickets and further information,
contact Maureen Crisp on 0115 9664367.
6 pm – ‘Robin Hood And The Sherwood Experience’. Return of the Common
Players to Hucknall Titchfield Park after their first open-air show
last year. Take a picnic. Free of charge.
MONDAY JULY 5
1.30 pm – ‘The Bad Lord Byron’, a rare chance to see the 1949 film,
starring Dennis Price, Byron Cineplex Cinema, £3.
2 pm – ‘With Great Pleasure’, music and poetry presented by Gwenda
Watkins and Gillian Berry, Gallery Restaurant and Millennium Garden,
Nottingham University, £6.50 (including afternoon tea). For tickets
and further information, contact Maureen Crisp on 0115 9664367.
6 pm – ‘Newstead And Its Owners’, a talk by Denis Hill that traces
the history of Newstead Abbey and its owners from its foundation to
the 20th century, Hucknall Community Centre, £3.
7.30 pm – ‘Italian Night’, an evening of Italian food, wine and
music, Hucknall Community Centre, £4. Bookings in advance only by
ringing 0115 9529303.
TUESDAY JULY 6
2.30 pm – ‘Strawberry Fayre’. The fruits of summer to be enjoyed in a
delicious afternoon of pleasure, Hucknall Community Centre, £3.
Bookings in advance only by ringing 0115 9529303.
2 pm to 4 pm – Heritage Bus Tour, taking a look at the heritage of
Hucknall and surrounding villages, starting from Hucknall Community
Centre. No charge but booking essential by ringing 0115 9529303.
7.15 pm – The Byron Dinner, including a talk by Edward Enfield,
entitled ‘Byron And The Elgin Marbles’, Hucknall Community Centre,
£10.50. For tickets and further information, contact Maureen Crisp on
0115 9664367.
WEDNESDAY JULY 7
10 am – Festival Health Walk, part of Hucknall’s Taking Steps
project. Meet at Hucknall Community Centre. Free of charge.
11 am – Evergreen Arts Group. Creative and visual performing by young
adults with learning difficulties, Watnall Road Baptist Church. Free
of charge.
2 pm to 4 pm – Arts And Crafts, exhibitions, demonstrations and
have-a-go, Watnall Road Community Centre. Free of charge.
7.30 pm – ‘Fawlty Towers Murder Mystery Night,’ including two-course
supper, presented by Ken Purslow, Hucknall Community Centre. Advance
bookings only. Tickets and further information from Maureen Crisp on
0115 9664367.
THURSDAY JULY 8
Visit to Southwell Minster. Contact Hucknall Community Centre on 0115
9529303 for further details.
10 am – Heritage Walk, a chance to look at Hucknall’s town centre
heritage, including some well-known places and others not quite so
well known. Meet outside Hucknall Library. Free of charge.
7.30 pm – ‘Extraordinary Friends Byron And Shelley.’ A second chance
to see this new play by Bill Studdiford, starring Ian Frost, the
Great Hall of Southwell Minster, £5/£4. A pre-performance supper also
available. For tickets and further information, contact Maureen Crisp
on 0115 9664367.
FRIDAY JULY 9
6.30 pm to 8.30 pm – Heritage Bus Tour. A repeat of this popular
tour, starting from Hucknall Community Centre. Free of charge but
booking essential by ringing 0115 9529303.
12 midday – ‘A Tram Trip And A Thai’, a trip by tram to a location in
Basford providing wonderful Thai food. From Hucknall tram stop, £7.50
including tram fare. Bookings in advance only by ringing 0115
9529303.
7.30 pm – ‘A Poem And A Pint’, traditional Friday night festival
event. Go along and listen to or recite your favourite poems. Themes
this year include friendship, family and, of course, love, Hucknall
Community Centre, £3.
SATURDAY JULY 10
>From 10 am – Flower Festival, Seymour Road Baptist Church. A welcome
return after the success of last year’s festival, includes stalls.
Lunches available.
7.30 pm – Concert For Armenia, Hucknall Parish Church. Tribute to the
friendship agreement between the Lord Byron School and Holgate
Comprehensive School, including performances by Armenian dancer
Shake, Newstead Welfare Brass Band, Holgate and Lord Byron School
pupils, supported by Hucknall Rotary Club. At Hucknall Parish Church,
£5.
SUNDAY JULY 11
10 am – Boatswain Walk, a pleasant Sunday stroll for yourself and
your dog in memory of Byron’s dog, starting from Hucknall Community
Centre. Free of charge.
>From 10 am – Flower Festival, Seymour Road Baptist Church. Final day.
Free of charge.
11.30 am – Byron Festival Open Darts Championship, competing for the
Byron Trophy, donated by Coun John Wilmott (Lab), of Hucknall, at
Royal British Legion Social Club, Beardall Street. To enter and for
further details, contact Les Berridge on 0115 9528658.
3 pm – Dedication, Service And Concert. Dedication of a khatchkhar in
memory of the late Canon Fred Green, followed by a service and
concert of music and poetry from members of the Byron Society and
students from Holgate Comprehensive School and the Lord Byron School
in Armenia. Free of charge.
4 pm – Naming Ceremony. The official renaming of Hucknall Community
Centre in Ogle Street. Free of charge.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Festivals Past, exhibition at Hucknall Library throughout the
festival.
nExhibitions at Newstead Abbey. Ring 01623 455900 for further
details.
Tours of Hucknall Parish Church, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 12
midday and 2 pm to 4 pm.
Festival lunches at Red Lion pub in Hucknall High Street.
Byron Festival Radio on air from June 28 to July 11. Frequency 97.5
FM.
Dispatch coverage every Friday to July 16