In Festival Mood

AFTER a day on which torrential rain washed out events all around the county, an Arundel Festival audience was praised for showing up in force at an open air concert.

Hundreds of big band fans defied the weather and packed the outdoor arena beneath the walls of Arundel Castle.

They were there for two-and-a-half hours with the renowned Syd Lawrence Orchestra, last year voted best in the land by readers of an international magazine.

Leader-director Chris Dean was obviously impressed that so many faithfuls had turned up on such a damp evening, describing them as you brave people .

Earlier in the day things were not looking too good. With the roads awash from violent thunderstorms and a protracted downpour, cancellation might well have been on the cards.

But conditions improved considerably by the evening, although before the refreshment interval umbrellas were going up and down as occasional outbursts threatened to halt proceedings.

However, the traditional magic of the beautiful setting, combined with the sublime music, soon cast an unavoidable spell.

All the Arundel Festival news and pictures can be found in the Gazette, August 30.