The Tenby Arts Festival opening celebrations on Saturday and Sunday were a brilliant success with lots of people visiting for the weekend to enjoy the festivities in such beautiful surroundings and blessed with such wonderful weather!
Both days went very well with something for everyone. A lively start to nine days of outstanding, varied and interesting events over the festival week.
The weekend's activities would not have been possible without the help of so many people and Tenby Arts Festival committee would like to express its thanks and acknowledge the following individuals, groups, organisations and companies for generously supporting the events:
Clr. Christine Brown, Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Lis James, Deputy Mayor, and the mace bearers, for opening the event; Carl Evans, Tenby harbourmaster, Mathew Broadhurst, his deputy, and the harbour users for their co-operation and help in providing an arena; the Sailing Club for the workshop space; John Thomas, the Town Crier, who was so kindly out from early morning announcing the event in town and heading the parade; Eileen Hodgson and Tenby and District Brass Band, who heroically dropped everything and raced to open the festival in great style when we experienced a bit of crisis!
My personal thanks go to them for being brilliant and so helpful.
We would like to thank once more Texaco for the staging and Phil Thompson; Tenby Town Council, Pembrokeshire County Council, the police and all the stewards and the many other people who have helped by giving their time and effort to making the festival a success.
Also, a big thank you to Alex Wilson for all his help and Al Davey and Theo Cowen for their help, especially in the technical electrical department.
For the events on Sunday we would like to thank Carolyn Hill for organising the kite events and Steve Walton for bringing the magnificent wind sock kite! Thanks to Angelo Zerachi at the Fountains Cafe for providing a venue for the Kite Workshop; Nick Merrony, of Walk on Water, Mike Prout, of Surf Centre, and all the people who came with their kites and sand buggies.
Lastly, a big thank you and well done to all the people who turned up to be creative in the sand for the Sand Sculpture Competition - 25 entrants! Our judges John Cahill from the Harbour Gallery and Steve Walton, kite artist. Also to those who generously supported the event or donated prizes, including Arts Festival sponsors, Somerfield Stores and Colin Sharp, of The Famous £ Shop.