Brighton's Patchfest a success despite the weather (From The Argus)

Brighton's Patchfest a success despite the weather

2:00pm Monday 13th July 2009 in

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Not even the rain could dampen the spirits of the visitors and volunteers to community festival PatchFest.

The event, which is in its fifth year, is organised by the Friends of William Clarke Park for the people living in Lewes Road and Elm Grove in Brighton.

The whole festival is run voluntarily and about 1,000 people turned up on Saturday despite the miserable weather.

Duncan Blinkhorn, the festival organiser and chairman of the Friends of William Clarke Park, said: “We had a kids stage and lots of young people and children performing, dancing and singing.

“We had got a more grown up stage further up the hill.

“We were a bit worried about the weather because it has been threatening rain so we had to move a few things around but there was a brilliant mood and people were happy.

“The event is entirely run by volunteers and local people who have mucked in. No one gets paid for what they do.

“It's all done for the love of it and there is great support for it because of that.”

A feast of music and dance from all corners of the neighbourhood was lined up for the festival.

There were 25 performances on two stages, including a pyramid stage for budding young talent.

Guerrilla gardeners helped run the Lewes Road Community Garden cafe and told people how they had helped to spruce up the old Esso petrol forecourt in Lewes Road.

There was also a market place with stalls selling goods from bric-a-brac to books.

Unfortunately the attempt to break the world record for the number of people doing the conga while wearing Wellington boots was not so successful.

Phil Lakka, from community events group Playgroup, had arranged for the attempt to take place and conga through Patchfest but a lack of participants meant it did not take place.

He said: “It's a bit miserable and word has not quite got out to everyone but we are going to be back here in mid August on another Saturday to break it with lost more children and people wearing wellies.”

Watch a video of Patchfest at theargus.co.uk/video.