Latest news from Caroline Lumley, Chair of Hungerford Summer Festival.

November 2023

This summer was the first time for 30 years, apart from lock-down, that the Hungerford Summer Festival (formerly HADCAF) was not brought to the community.

Some of our loyal team retired in 2022 after many years of extraordinary service. But despite strenuous efforts, active volunteer committee members could not be found to organise and publicise the events for 2023.

So, this year the festival was moth-balled while we searched for a new team to bring music, art, drama, walks, talks, workshops and the variety of experiences that the festival has become known for.

In the absence of a 2023 festival, the committee was delighted to financially support Hungerford Nursery School with school lunches for a year, and Hungerford Primary School with iPads for their classes.

The committee will have to make a decision before the end of the 2023 as to whether or not to wind up the festival accounts, so this is the last call for volunteers to take responsibility for marketing, events booking and IT.

There is a lot of work and fun involved in bringing this event to the community, and the rewards for the achievement are immeasurable.

If you can help the Hungerford Summer Festival to bring entertainment and experiences to the community once again please contact Chair Caroline Lumley on [email protected].

December 2022

After the AGM of the Hungerford Summer Festival (formerly HADCAF) on 6 December 2022, it was decided that, after 30 successful years, it is not possible to bring the festival to the community next year.

A small core of loyal local people has, for many years, worked totally voluntarily, all year round, to bring the festival to Hungerford. Organising and booking events and venues, designing and managing the website, organising bars and hospitality, raising funds through local sponsors and Trusts, marketing and selling tickets and publicising the festival off and on-line, monitoring finances and being there for all the events.

For personal reasons, a number of the key players on the festival committee are standing down this year; chair and marketing, secretary, events booking and organising, website management and sponsorship. Without volunteers to take responsibility for these major areas, it is not possible to have a festival. Despite continuously trawling for new, active volunteers to join the committee, response has been limited which, sadly, has forced this decision.

We plan to mothball the festival in the hope that volunteers will come forward to bring it back in the future. If you would like to discuss this please contact me on [email protected].

The festival committee wish to thank all the many loyal financial donors, both private individuals and local businesses, without whom the festival would not have happened and the faithful support of Hungerford Town Council, the Town and Manor of Hungerford and the wonderful Greenham Trust which match-funded all the generous donations. Thank you to FareWise Travel who have produced real tickets for those without computers, and to Adam Winslet who has performed and supported us over the years.

My grateful thanks to the amazing team who have worked so hard; Sara Fricker, Hilary and Richard Stockwell, Liz Barnett, Nicola Wood, Jane Mills, Jeannette Baxter and Jonathan Bacchus; and our team of volunteers who come to the festival to make it all happen.

And thank you to everyone who came to the events and helped make it a success every year.

The team of 2022 will be on hand to assist anyone who would like to take over the responsibility of the next festival.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year for 2023.

Caroline Lumley
Chair
Hungerford Summer Festival