Winchester's MP was among those who gathered at the Hospital of St Cross today (Thursday 2 May 2019) for the launch of this year's Winchester Festival.
Guests were surprised to learn 2019 will be the final festival after 22 years but it's a packed programme including some high profile names coming to the city.
Writing in the festival guide, the organisers say; "Since the Festival started in 1998 there has been an extraordinary increase in the number of concerts and talks happening in Winchester so that every week - almost every day - there are wonderful performances across the city. Winchester now has a wealth of music and literature throughout the year and we have decided, with a great deal of deliberation and a lot of sadness, that this will be the final Winchester Festival. We hope you will find many events to interest you in this year’s programme and that our last Festival will be one to remember.
"We are hugely grateful and indebted to everyone who has been involved with the Festival over the last twenty two years – the sponsors, individual donors and patrons, Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council, the local performers and the performers who come to us from much further afield, the staff and volunteers, and, most of all, the audiences – indeed everyone who has made the Festival so inspiring and rewarding to be involved with. We very much look forward to seeing you at some of the events in July for this, the final, Winchester Festival."
Steve added; "This event has become a staple of the Spring for me and it was a lovely setting this year for sure. I think we're all sorry to see it end in 2019 but the committee are certainly going out with a blast. It's a fantastic programme this year and I wish them every success."
Pictured; Steve Brine MP with Jan Anderson who chairs the Festival Committee and this year's programme all ready to go.
More information ...
