Oakham festival is under threat

Oakham Festival won’t be going ahead next year unless new volunteers come forward to run it.

The trustees are stepping down because of family commitments but are desperately seeking new members to ensure the event isn’t lost from the town’s calendar.

Next year will be its 30th anniversary.

Outgoing chairman Michelle Begy said she would be “devastated” if the festival is axed, but the time has come to hand over the reins to someone else.

She said: “It would be amazing to find someone to rescue it. I would be devastated to see it go after so many years.”

This year’s six-day festival took place at the end of June and included a sing-along screening of The Greatest Showman, a Faulty Towers Dining Experience and Lindy Hop Bop.

In previous years it has also featured big names including Toploader, Showaddywaddy, Jimmy Carr and Jo Caulfield.

Comedian and former Oakham School pupil Miles Jupp is patron of the festival.

Over the years it has regularly featured the Proms in the Park and concerts by Rutland Big Band and the Oakham School choir, but Michelle believes this is an exciting opportunity for someone to take it in a new direction.

She said: “It’s fun to do and there is so much scope for it to get bigger and better, but it needs someone who is passionate about the arts and has the time to dedicate to it.”

The event traditionally takes place in late June and the committee believe it needs someone with one spare afternoon a week to dedicate to its organisation, and the creativity to introduce two or three new events to the programme.

If no one comes forward in the new year, the event will be put into dormancy and Arts For Rutland will become guardians of the accounts until the event can be resurrected.

Anyone interested in organising next year’s anniversary festival can contact Michelle on 07801 568732 or get in touch via the website here.