May 7 – June 23 Simonsbath Festival 2012 Simonsbath Festival 2012 May 7 – June 23 With financial support from the Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund and Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership Photography: landscapes courtesy Nicola Friedrich; St Luke’s interior shots courtesy Jackie Cooper Simonsbath Festival logo illustrated by Lucy Pearn Festival programme: Edited by Victoria Thomas Designed by Maggie Lyddiatt Printed by Brightsea Press 01643 831343 [email protected] www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk When the world comes to Simonsbath in the of Exmoor When the world comes to Simonsbath in the of Exmoor Monday May 7 – 6pm Ashcombe, Simonsbath Information and booking details on page 10 Index: page Opening event – Festival opening event May Day celebrations (see facing page) Simonsbath and the Simonsbath Festival 2 Traditional May Day St Luke’s Church concerts 3 The Russian Orthodox Choir 4 celebrations Baroness Ann Mallalieu 4 Keziah Thomas 5 With a maypole for the children of Exford School to dance around, a bar and barbeque Alan Lewis All-stars 6 and dancing to live music from folk band Mervyn Mewis 6 Toyin’ with Tunes. The Hon Gilbert Greenall CBE MD 7 Toyin’ with Tunes features Chris Toyne Admission to the opening Baraka 8 on accordion and Ian Anderson on guitar event is £5 Born in the Gardens 8 and harmonica, with caller Jean Challender under 14sat FREE the gate,. to take everyone through each dance For more information please contact Indian classical music 9 before doing it to music, making it easy Marian Lloyd on 01643 831451 Information and booking form 10–11 for folk to join in. Simonsbath Sawmill 12 The band’s music is lively and promises to get feet moving Events at Simonsbath Sawmill 13 enthusiastically with its reels, jigs, hornpipes, country dance waltzes – Exmoor National Park and in fact anything and everything in country or barn dancing. The Heart of Exmoor 15 “The great thing about country dance is that the Guided walks 15 The Exmoor Society 16 dances are easy,” says Ian Anderson. Events at Exmoor Forest Inn 17 “And often you get to meet other dancers as you Closing event – progress through the dance.” Midsummer’s Day celebrations 20 Toyin’ with Tunes also perform 17th Century dance music, rags Events diary - at a glance 21 and airs to listen to, and each member plays for Morris Dance with General enquiries: Victoria Thomas Tel: 01643 831343 Email: [email protected] Wyvern Jubilee and West Somerset Morris Men. www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk 1 Monday May 7 – 6pm Ashcombe, Simonsbath Information and booking details on page 10 Index: page Opening event – Festival opening event May Day celebrations (see facing page) Simonsbath and the Simonsbath Festival 2 Traditional May Day St Luke’s Church concerts 3 The Russian Orthodox Choir 4 celebrations Baroness Ann Mallalieu 4 Keziah Thomas 5 With a maypole for the children of Exford School to dance around, a bar and barbeque Alan Lewis All-stars 6 and dancing to live music from folk band Mervyn Mewis 6 Toyin’ with Tunes. The Hon Gilbert Greenall CBE MD 7 Toyin’ with Tunes features Chris Toyne Admission to the opening Baraka 8 on accordion and Ian Anderson on guitar event is £5 Born in the Gardens 8 and harmonica, with caller Jean Challender under 14sat FREE the gate,. to take everyone through each dance For more information please contact Indian classical music 9 before doing it to music, making it easy Marian Lloyd on 01643 831451 Information and booking form 10–11 for folk to join in. Simonsbath Sawmill 12 The band’s music is lively and promises to get feet moving Events at Simonsbath Sawmill 13 enthusiastically with its reels, jigs, hornpipes, country dance waltzes – Exmoor National Park and in fact anything and everything in country or barn dancing. The Heart of Exmoor 15 “The great thing about country dance is that the Guided walks 15 The Exmoor Society 16 dances are easy,” says Ian Anderson. Events at Exmoor Forest Inn 17 “And often you get to meet other dancers as you Closing event – progress through the dance.” Midsummer’s Day celebrations 20 Toyin’ with Tunes also perform 17th Century dance music, rags Events diary - at a glance 21 and airs to listen to, and each member plays for Morris Dance with General enquiries: Victoria Thomas Tel: 01643 831343 Email: [email protected] Wyvern Jubilee and West Somerset Morris Men. www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk 1 Simonsbath St Luke’s Church The village of Simonsbath lies in the heart of Exmoor and its Work began on building St Luke’s in 1855, and the church was history is directly linked to the enclosure of the ancient Exmoor consecrated the following year. Forest and the pioneering Knight family. St Luke’s Church has recently been renovated to create a welcoming The Exmoor Forest refers to the ancient Royal Forest, at the and attractive performing space which is ideal for concerts and other heart of the existing National Park, an area of 20,344 acres, events. With its excellent acoustics, St Luke’s has already become a centring on Simonsbath. The Forest was an area of wild, popular venue for professional and amateur concerts. uncultivated moorland, previously owned and subsequently Today St Luke’s is still a working church with regular fortnightly leased by the Crown. morning services, to which everyone is welcome. Details of services The boundary of the Forest is 32 miles long and in many places can be found in either the parish magazine or on the church gate. the original boundary wall can be seen and followed. Each year The present incumbent Rector David Weir, who can be found at the walkers take on the Exmoor Perambulation around all 32 miles Rectory in Exford, would be happy to provide any further information. of the boundary and this year it takes place on June 23, the final The Simonsbath Festival is grateful to the Rector and the Parochial day of the Simonsbath Festival. Church Council for the use of their lovely church. John Knight, an industrialist from Worcestershire, bought the Tickets for festival events at St Luke’s Church cost £10 Exmoor Forest in 1814, hoping to tame the moor using modern (student/unemployed concessions £7.50) and are available: agricultural methods and create a viable farming community. • by phone from Robin Ashburner: 01643-831199 However, he faced enormous difficulties with the harsh climate and high landscapes and in 1841 his son Frederic took over. • by email from [email protected] Under his management more farms were built and more hedges • in person at Exford Post Office and at Exmoor House, were laid and by 1852 as many as 281 people lived on the Wheddon Cross. estate. A season ticket is also available offering entry to the six priced events Simonsbath Festival at St Luke’s Church: The Simonsbath Festival has evolved from a programme of Russian Orthodox Choir, Keziah Thomas, The Alan Lewis All-stars, concerts offered in St Luke’s Church over the last two summers. Baraka, Ricky Romain and Jon Sterckx, and Creative Cow’s It is a non-profit making community venture offering a wide range “Born in the Gardens”. of events and activities. The price of a season ticket is £45 (concessions £35). 2 Simonsbath Festival May 7 – June 23 www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk 3 Simonsbath St Luke’s Church The village of Simonsbath lies in the heart of Exmoor and its Work began on building St Luke’s in 1855, and the church was history is directly linked to the enclosure of the ancient Exmoor consecrated the following year. Forest and the pioneering Knight family. St Luke’s Church has recently been renovated to create a welcoming The Exmoor Forest refers to the ancient Royal Forest, at the and attractive performing space which is ideal for concerts and other heart of the existing National Park, an area of 20,344 acres, events. With its excellent acoustics, St Luke’s has already become a centring on Simonsbath. The Forest was an area of wild, popular venue for professional and amateur concerts. uncultivated moorland, previously owned and subsequently Today St Luke’s is still a working church with regular fortnightly leased by the Crown. morning services, to which everyone is welcome. Details of services The boundary of the Forest is 32 miles long and in many places can be found in either the parish magazine or on the church gate. the original boundary wall can be seen and followed. Each year The present incumbent Rector David Weir, who can be found at the walkers take on the Exmoor Perambulation around all 32 miles Rectory in Exford, would be happy to provide any further information. of the boundary and this year it takes place on June 23, the final The Simonsbath Festival is grateful to the Rector and the Parochial day of the Simonsbath Festival. Church Council for the use of their lovely church. John Knight, an industrialist from Worcestershire, bought the Tickets for festival events at St Luke’s Church cost £10 Exmoor Forest in 1814, hoping to tame the moor using modern (student/unemployed concessions £7.50) and are available: agricultural methods and create a viable farming community. • by phone from Robin Ashburner: 01643-831199 However, he faced enormous difficulties with the harsh climate and high landscapes and in 1841 his son Frederic took over. • by email from [email protected] Under his management more farms were built and more hedges • in person at Exford Post Office and at Exmoor House, were laid and by 1852 as many as 281 people lived on the Wheddon Cross.