Linda Massey's Annual Diary of an Event Manager
Come to Brentford Festival 2019 this Sunday at Blondin Park
I have decided that I need a ghost writer – I simply have not found the time to write the promised monthly articles on my progress through the summer in my world of volunteering in the local community. With the Brentford Festival around the corner (literally on the Ealing Brentford Borders) I thought I had better sit down and make a stab at this before it is too late…it is so nearly Sunday.
The festival is Sunday 1st September in Blondin Park, W5 and starts at noon through to 6pm. We have gone back to delivering flyers through letterboxes (17,300 of them) and are amazed to see the increase in the amount of properties over the years. For example when we started in 2005 we used to hand deliver to Brentford between ourselves and delivered to 5,000 addresses. This number has now increased to 6,913 but, as we get older and the arthritis is setting in, we have employed a specialist company to do this. Sponsorship from Knight Frank and NH Genesis have helped make this affordable. Hope you get your copy, but we have it on our website just in case. www.brentfordfestival.org.uk
I was feeling rather smug when I started out writing this. I wanted to say that we have an amazing line-up for the main stage which we managed to secure and advertise some months ago but then our first act has had to pull out. It is such short notice that it looks like we will have an empty stage for a brief period. A few of the bands, such as the BATS of Ealing and the Republic of Brentford have played with us before they were so good. I was actually seen tapping my feet last year which has to be a good sign and yes the Ealing Today editor was seen dancing so I am really looking forward to this. We have Rosie Trentham who is an Isleworth singer songwriter who is now the first to play, unless some miracle happens. Unfortunately, there was no room for Rosie last year so please come along and give her support for her performance at the Brentford Festival.
It has to be said that in previous years some of our catering vendors have run out of food so this year we have cranked up the offerings and promise a good variety of tempting foods. You can look on the website for the list of those that have signed up. Now I cannot promise that the real ale at the CAMRA bar will not run out early as it is always weather dependent (we have been checking the weather forecast regularly and it is looking good so you had better get down and spend the day with us to secure your pint or two. FYI it is the profits from this that go back into the start up for the following year's festival, so it is really important that they are supported well!
Next to them will be the Friends of Boston Manor who with their local workforce will continue to serve hot drinks, wines and lagers and the ever popular Pimms and of course soft drinks for those whom do not drink alcohol. Positioned next to them and new this year, raising funds for the BLONDIN CONSORTIUM, will be a gin, cocktails and prosecco stand run by the Youth Engagement Programme. Some of the young people with autism will be supporting the non-alcohol element and will be on hand with their support workers to explain the big plan for the park.
You may know that I am involved in the BLONDIN CONSORTIUM and we are fundraising to build a pavilion within Blondin park which will facilitate sporting activities and will have a café facility which will be run with the help of people with autism. When I announced the start of crowdfunding last year that we were looking for over £425,000 there were sounds of horror across West London and the question being raised was why was the figure so high. In brief I can now say that now we are not having to pay crowdfunding fees or their associated card fees the figure has come down. Throughout the year we raised £102,900 and I was thrilled to hear from the London Marathon Charitable trust only a few weeks ago that they are supporting us with £150,000 sponsorship so all we are looking for now is £156,100 to make this happen. We will be having donation boxes on the three bars in the main field if you would like to make a cash donation (no we do not take cards) but advertised on the picnic benches will be the Consortium bank account details if you would like to make a direct donation. I for one will be very grateful and remember what ever the amount donated it will all help towards this wonderful project.
When I talk about this new venture I am continually asked how this will affect the work I do in Boston Manor Park – well I am not planning on moving from there ….. unless someone really upsets me (joke) as I have someone in the form of Karen Jenkins who it has to be said could be my clone who will help me pull the Blondin project together. Boston Manor has been very draining this year. So many consultations, requests for information with regard to their proposed lottery bid and even though I escaped from the Junction 2 event we are still trying to get the park back into some order and damages repaired two months on. It still looks like the Spartans football club (due to start back in just two weeks) will not be able to play on the pitches but if there is a god, please deliver tons of good quality top soil so that we volunteers can help them fill the rivets …or pay for St Johns Ambulance to be on hand for the sprained ankles. Talking about injuries I nearly forgot to mention, one of our sponsors who supplies scaffolding has done something nasty to his shoulder which is why we couldn’t get our banners up at the entrances but then I would hope that you know where it is by now in Blondin Park.
Having worked 56 days on the trot I am sure I can be forgiven for saying that I cannot wait for the festival to be over so that I can take time out and be back to weekends only.
Now I must press the send button otherwise this piece of writing is just not going to be seen by anyone.
Thank you for reading.
Linda Massey
Brentford's RedRoutemasters will once again be offering a free circular service operating every twenty minutes round Brentford and Ealing using normal bus stops in the following order: Brentford Market, Brentford County Court, Brentford Station, Brentford Festival, Northfields, West Ealing, Hanwell, Boston Manor, Brentford Festival, Gillette Corner, Syon Lane station. See RedRoutemaster for full map and timetable (downloadable pdf).
There are 11 classes for the Dog Show, with registration beginning at noon. Entry is £4 per class or 2 for £7
August 29, 2019
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