Big boost to Music Festival by Julian Lloyd-Webber

Committee chairman and festival founder Tony Mansi approached the country's leading cellist during the interval at Julian's headlining festival concert last Friday.

Tony told the Observer minutes later: "I am absolutely delighted.

"I explained to him what we are doing and that we are heavily involved in a music education programme with children.

"I told him that we were trying to turn ourselves into a charity in order to attract more funding.

"I asked if he would become our patron and he accepted immediately!

"It is wonderful news. It will certainly help with our bid for charitable status.

"We are very privileged to have Julianon board.

"We are seeking charitable status now and Julian will become patron when this comes into effect.

"He has made it clear that because of his commitments he will not be able to spare us much of his time. But he is delighted by what we are doing with local schoolchildren and his name on the top of our notepaper will certainly help us when we seek future funding."

The ten-day festival opened last Thursday at the De La Warr Pavilion with East Sussex Music Service presenting Prelude To A Festival, an evening of music-making featuring Bexhill primary school children, music centre percussion ensembles and the Hastings and Rother Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Bexhill Youth Music Showcase this Friday night at the pavilion will feature a variety of music projects enjoyed by Bexhill schools throughout the year, including jazz, big band, folk and classical.

With Pam Chowan at the piano, Julian Lloyd-Webber had delighted an appreciative audience at the pavilion last Friday with a concert in which he not only displayed his command of the classical repertoire but of family works, not only that of his brother Andrew, but his father William and one of his own compositions.

His personal warmth shone in an "experimental" section in which he followed illuminating readings from autobiographical account of his early life with a question'”and-answer session which also revealed much about his audience's knowledge of his career.

Bexhill Festival of Music was founded last year. A pre-concert launch reception at the pavilion last Friday was attended by Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart and his wife and Mayoress Maureen.

Also present were representatives of sponsors who, in addition to the De La Warr Pavilion Trust, include Markson Pianos, Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors, Earl's Bakery, Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Old Town Preservation Society, Rother District Council and the Observer.

Pavilion director Alan Haydon said the festival was a great working relationship between the organising committee led by hard-working Tony Mansi and the pavilion.

"We are now into the second year and think we have a future to look forward to."

Thanking sponsors, Tony Mansi said that without them the festival could not have happened. The management of the pavilion had been "absolutely brilliant" in supporting the festival.

Still to come on the festival programme:

*Saturday '“ 2pm on the terrace '“ Hooe Village Band (free)

7.30pm in the auditorium - The BBC Big Band

*Sunday - Summer Sunday Sing '“ Open to everyone with a scratch rehearsal at 11.15am; a dress rehearsal at 1pm and a performance in the auditorium at 2.3pm

8pm in the auditorium '“ The London Adventist Chorale