(Launch event images by Will Aron, see: www.facebook.com/willaronsphotography)
To welcome its second year, organisers of The Sandstone Ridge Festival held a launch event recently to thank sponsors for their support last year, and to welcome those who are interested in helping this year.
The event sees Cheshire authors, artists and musicians appearing for a unique spectacle covering the idyllic rural villages of Bickley, Cholmondeley, Bickerton, Peckforton, Bunbury, Malpas, Burwardsley, Harthill and Tattenhall.
This year’s event takes place 17th-20th of May, with highlights including…
Thursday 17th May
At Cholmondeley Chapel, award-winning poet, historian and novelist Dr Gladys Mary Coles will host a talk about Wilfred Owen, who was inspired to write poetry while walking in the Bickerton Hills.
BBC Folk Award-winning duo Ninebarrow will then be performing at Bickerton Village Hall in the evening.
Friday 18th May
Papagena, an all female vocal group who explore music from medieval times to the present day, will be performing the musical extravaganza ‘Nuns and Roses’ at Bunbury Church with local choir Decibellas on Friday night.
Saturday 19th May
A special ‘Bring-Your-Own Picnic’ will be taking place at Bishop Heber High School where the royal wedding can be viewed on a large screen.
After lunch on Saturday the well-known, Cheshire-born author Julie Summers (Home Fires, The Jam Busters) will talk about her book ‘The Secret Lives Of Britain’s Country Houses 1939-45’.
The book offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into life at some of Britain’s greatest country houses which were occupied by people who would otherwise have never set foot in such opulent premises.
After this, there will be a talk entitled ‘A Lifetimes Altitude Climbing, Altitude Medicine and Tibetan Traditional Medicine’ by Dr Charles Clarke.
Sunday 20th May
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, The Barbour Institute in Tattenhall will host a new play with music entitled ‘Grasping the Nettle’ starring Lucy Stevens and based on the exploits and passions of composer, writer and suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth.
Throughout
A four-day art exhibition is being held at The Cheshire Art Hub, The Peter Wheeler Short Story Competition will be taking place and also on offer will be guided walks in Bickley and Cholmondeley Gardens.
To view the full programme of events, please click here.
