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Beggars’ biggest offering
ORGANISERS are predicting next weekend's Romsey Beggars' Fair will be the biggest yet.
Free music, dance and street entertainment will be staged at various venues across the town, including pubs and in the open-air during next Friday evening (July 11) and the following day (Saturday, July 12).
Beggars Fair committee member, Geoff Bartlett, said a lot of hard work had gone on behind the scenes to stage the event, including working with various authorities on public safety issues.
Mr Bartlett added: "This year has been a very busy one for the committee, including nine extra meetings with Hampshire Constabulary, Test Valley's licensing authority and Romsey PubWatch.
"After many discussion and submissions the committee eventually produced an event safety management plan and risk-assessment document that was acceptable to all parties and allowed this year's Romsey Beggars Fair to go ahead."
He added: "The festival is the biggest yet, with the committee organising 59 acts and assisting the venues in organising another 20. A large crowd of over 2,500 people is expected over the Friday evening, July 11 and all day Saturday, July 12."
Programmes for the event are on sale at various places across the town, including Romsey Tourist Information Centre and the Romsey Advertiser office.
Organisers have secured extra parking facilities at Romsey Town Football Club's ground on the bypass and at Romsey School. These sites will be open until 8pm on the Saturday. (July12).
Romsey Beggars' Fair is funded by Hampshire County Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Romsey Town Council and donations from South West Trains along with cash raised from programme sales and advertising.
Mr Bartlett said the seven-member committee, which meets monthly throughout the year, would welcome more sponsorship of the event, which was started by a group of folk players in 1993.
Amongst the performers in this year's Beggars' Fair are the Andover Museum Loft Singers, Atlantico, Captain Drivers Delight, Chicago 9, Contraband, Ben Dalby, the Djembabes, East of Ealing, Innominata, Jazzmorillo, King John's Morris Men, Lee Jongleurs and Mac III.
10:36am Friday 4th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Victor Meldrew, Romsey on 5:58pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Round up the town's yobs and put them in the stocks. I'll quite happily buy some rotten vegetables to throw at them.
Round up the town's yobs and put them in the stocks. I'll quite happily buy some rotten vegetables to throw at them.
Posted by: Grumpy old woman, romsey on 4:39pm Fri 11 Jul 08
Brace yourself for the professional glastonbury crowd & where will the stocks be - i've already bought the eggs!
Brace yourself for the professional glastonbury crowd & where will the stocks be - i've already bought the eggs!
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