Gruffalo Sunday at the North Kelvin Meadow.

One of the special events during the West End Festival is the ‘Gruffalo’s child afternoon on Sunday 24 June in the Children’s Wood at North Kelvin Meadow starting at 2pm. Tam Dean Burn will read the Gruffalo’s Child story. There will be Gruffalo face painting and Gruffalo prizes to be won, plus lots more..

As the North Kelvin Meadow campaigners say: ‘Experience the Children’s Wood on North Kelvin Meadow before this beautiful green area is lost forever. A planning application has been submitted. We have about a month to Save the North Kelvin Meadow. This is the only wild space in the West-end. Children need this type of environment – manicured spaces and parks are not the same.’ They emphasise that wild spaces like the meadow, are invaluable to children, especially those growing up in towns. ‘Meadows like this stimulate the imagination and nurture the spirit. Places like this are hard to come by in urban settings so should be preserved at all costs,’ said Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.’

For more information contact Emily on email: northkelvinmeadow@gmail.com and keep in touch with developments via:

Keep in touch with the latest on the North Kelvin Meadow campaign

Web: www.northkelvinmeadow.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/northkelvinmeadow

Twitter: kelvinmeadow

Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/northkelvinmeadow

Cleaning up the River Kelvin is great way to socialise

The River Kelvin Angling Association (RKAA) are planning  a clean-up on Saturday 2 June alongside FORK – Friends of the River Kelvin – who are preparing for their Big Gala on Saturday 9 June at their headquarters – Ha’penny Bridge House in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens.

Volunteers to help with both groups’ cleaning up activities are invited to be at Ha’Penny Bridge House (HBH) at 10.30. Pickers-up and gloves are provided. Said Allan Twigg, FORK treasurer who organises the regular FORK clean-ups: ‘We’ll be preparing HBH for the Gala and also want to clear part of the foundations of the Flint Mill which has become overgrown. Should anyone have loppers they can bring, they would be useful to cut back rhododendrons too, though we hope to borrow some from the Botanic Gardens.’

The FORK GALA on Saturday 9 June is a highlight of the West End Festival. Last year the event, planned to finish at 4pm – was still going strong at 6pm because so many musicians were happy to play, the weather was warm and people were having a great time browsing and buying at the stalls and listening to the music.

Said Allan: ‘On the day of the Gala, we need all the help we can get from early in the morning as we start setting up around 8 am, throughout the day to help with the Gala and late in the afternoon to clear up.’

FORK is an organisation of people who are keen to keep the integrity and the beauty of nature around the River Kelvin in the city and are committed to its care and maintenance on a volunteer basis. Founded 20 years ago by Mark Eden-Bushell who is now Ambassador for the work, FORK has been a social and an environmental success story which continues today under a new Convenor – Sally Johnston – and an enthusiastic team.

The annual gala includes a chance to try canoeing, find out about local campaigns and charities and volunteer activities and buy things like books and crafted goods. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Glasgow Conjurers are just two of the many organisations who take part and help to make the event a great success.

 

Kids give Fairtrade an airing

Hillhead Primary School children rallied for Fairtrade by taking a colourful, noisy and good nature walk through the Kelvingrove Park today (Friday 9 March)

Like a West End Festival troupe, with banners and costumes, chants and whistles, posters and hats more than 700 youngsters let the world know this was Fairtrade fortnight.  Said Head Teacher Francis Donaghy: ‘It was a fantastic celebration by the children, staff and parents of the school’s commitment to Fairtrade. This was the culmination of a range of activities designed to promote awareness of Fairtrade.’

Commented Helena Cardwell whose daughter Katie (6) was one of the marchers: ‘They’ve been tasting and trying things for two weeks. It has certainly raised awareness. Katie is saying we’ll need to watch what we buy at the supermarket now!’

 

More delights promised at West End Festival

 

Glasgow’s West End Festival runs till Sunday 26 June so there is still time to catch major and minor delights.

The Asian extravaganza of a Mela will be in Kelvingrove Park on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. A whole series of Daniel’s Beard concerts continues till Friday 24 June at the Cottier. A vintage bus service will run from Victoria Park to the West End on Sunday 26 June. And on that final Sunday of the Festival, the Runaway Bride’s relay run – the Revenge of the Bridesmaid – will take place in Kelvingrove Park. Organised by the Hilton-Foundation charity fund in aid of the Williams-syndrome, the fun 5k run has everyone dresses as brides and bridesmaids and is a spectacle.

Film, cookery master classes, kids stuff, classical music, fiddle workshops, garden fetes and art exhibitions and more are all there for enjoying. Lots of events are free. Look for a paper copy of the 100+ paged programme in places such as libraries. But online information can be found at: www.westendfestival.co.uk

Here are some pictures from the opening parade and from FORK Gala day. Friends of the River Kelvin (FORKs) care about the environment of the river and had a very successful Gala Day. See info elsewhere on this website.

Glorious invite

Singers who want to be part of the West End Festival’s musical extravaganza, Gloria IX, are invited to join the rehearsals starting on Thursday 5 May – voting day!

In its ninth year, Gloria will be performed in Glasgow Cathedral on Thursday 16 June and in Wellington Church, University Avenue, on Thursday 23 June.

‘We welcome as many choir singers as possible,’ said Alan Kitchen who will accompany the choir on the organ and who has provided three brand new hymn arrangements for choir, organ and percussion. ‘They can take part in either or both concerts and should be able to attend at least MOST of the rehearsals.’

Organ solos will be provided by local organists Malcolm Sim and Jonathan Salmond.

Directed by Ian Anderson, the choir will explore five centuries of choral music. The programme will range from 16^th century masters such as Byrd and Tallis, through Bach, Handel, Mozart and Haydn and via 19^th century masters Mendelssohn and Stanford into 20^th century music by John Rutter and Bob Chilcott.

Rehearsals will be held in Wellington Church starting at 7.45pm on Thursdays 5, 12,19 and 26 May and 2 and 9 June as well as final rehearsals in both venue.

Interested audiences are invited to rehearsals as well as the concerts where ‘audience participation’ is promised on the night. Contact:Alan Kitchen via Wellington Church email:wellingtonchurch@btinternet.com or Tel: 0141 339 0454. ‘Or simply turn up at the first rehearsal on Thursday 5 May,’ said Alan.

West End Festival kicks-off at Kelvingrove

Words and Photographs by Stuart Maxwell

The 2010 West End Festival (WEF) errupted with music and colour as thousands took to the sunny slopes of Kelvingrove Park for Festival Sunday on 13 June.
Events had been running for a week, at that point, but the Opening Mardis Gras Parade delighted thousands as musical ensembles and costume groups danced and strutted through the Park to the thud of drums and blasts of trumpets to give a formal start to the vast programme.
The WEF will run till Sunday 27 June with multiple venues offering a feast of musical, theatrical and literary delights. Last year more than 150,000 people attended, making it Glasgow’s most successful event.
Festival Director, Michael Dale, thinks this year’s showcase can bring people together after a difficult time. He said: ‘It has been a difficult year for many, but culture has an important part to play in keeping our spirits up.’
He added: ‘The West End Festival brings together communities, families and visitors from far and wide in this most dynamic area of Glasgow.’
Free programmes can be picked up  from most public places for this – the 15th - Glasgow West End Festival.

Diary dates

Watch out for a whole host of enjoyable festivals and fairs throughout the summer.

On Wednesday 19 May, Gorbals Fair Committee chose their Fair Prince and Princess from the assembled three local schools for the Fair Parade and Show on Saturday 5 June.

The Southside Festival’s big day will be Saturday 22 May in Queen’s Park RECREATION grounds with music in the Glasshouses. Already,  Carol Laula and Maeve O’Boyle have signed up. Other events will be run in the lead up to the day.

The first Saturday of every month sees Tollcross Park offering Bards in the Park, a dedicated group of poets and Tollcross writers who believe in Peace and Jam and family picnics in the Park.

From Monday 7 June till Sunday 27 June there will be a rolling programme of events, gigs and happenings to mark the West End’s 15th year of FESTIVAL. The programme is out now and can be picked up free, in most of the places where event will be taking place. Also check the website: www.westendfestival.co.uk

On Saturday 12 June the Friends of the River Kelvin will hold their annual fundraising FORKS in the Park event around their headquarters at Ha’penny Bridge in the Botanic Gardens.

The Mardi Gras styled parade to open the West End Festival will be on Sunday 13 June along Kelvin Way, as last year, ending in Kelvingrove Park.

Sunday 20 June will be the Gibson Street Gala Day and also the 20th year of the Glasgow Mela – sponsored for the first time by O2. That happy event will be in Kelvingrove Park.

Saturday 26 June will see the first West End Festival HIGHLAND GAMES. This will be scheduled for Hughenden playing fields possibly with a fireworks finale.