East Preston festival makers revive Olympic spirit

The festival makers will be at the heart of this popular, 10-day celebration of the village community, which opens tonight (Friday, May 31).

Whether putting up the bunting to provide a colourful visual aid that it’s festival time, selling raffle tickets, serving refreshments or putting out chairs and tables for events, this group of 30-plus volunteers are set to make their impact in the days ahead.

They will be one of the more visible signs of the new committee at the helm of this, the 32nd festival, led by chairman Ian Gordon and vice-chairman Mike Anstee.

Ian and Mike took over after last year’s festival, when outgoing chairman Paul Amoo, in charge for a year, warned that the event could die if new faces did not come forward, following the decision by most of the old committee to stand down after many years of loyal service.

“Paul did such a lot last year to keep the festival going and hand over the baton to us. Thankfully, the treasurer, carnival parade organiser and another key committee member stayed on and the new people who have stepped in are a great bunch, tireless and always up for anything,” said Mike.

After a successful career in IT with a major financial services business, Mike took early retirement from his director’s post, but then lectured in event management at Brighton University’s Eastbourne campus, gaining experience which he is now applying in his festival role.

When he gave up lecturing a year ago, he started looking for something else to occupy himself, at around the time the emergency meeting was called last year.

“This year, our aim is to take over the reins and add to the festival, then next year make our mark on it, and in year three we should reach our peak,” he said.

l For a full list of activities taking place this week and next, see the Gazette’s special feature (Thursday, May 30).