Small village with a big festival
17 June 2009

Welborne Arts Festival.

Welborne confirmed its reputation as the tiny village with the big arts festival as more than 1,000 people flocked to the event last weekend.

Now in its eighth year, the festival was given the theme of The World Around Us and gave its visitors a packed programme of performances, craft workshops and exhibitions.

They included literature readings by Norfolk-based naturalist and writer Mark Cocker and novelist Giles Foden, the author of The Last King of Scotland.

The village, near Mattishall, also showcased its own creativity with internationally-renowned Welborne potter Ruthanne Tudball giving demonstrations on the potter's wheel.

And organiser Mike Webb said one of this year's new attractions proved a particular highlight, with horses and riders from Kensington Lodge Farm performing drill rides to music on the neighbouring meadow.

Welborne Arts Festival.

He said: “There are only about 120 people living here so it is remarkable we have been able to make this event bigger and better every year. This was our best event yet.

“It seems a ridiculous place to have an arts festival, but that is why it is such a good idea. It is just such a nice, quiet, unspoilt part of Norfolk and people just love being here.

“We get more than 100 villagers involved in the organisation, including the car parking and stewarding. That is what it is all about. We are doing it as a community and celebrating living in Welborne.”

With thanks to Dereham Times

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