TAVISTOCK Music and Arts Festival was officially declared open last Saturday by the town's vicar. The Rev Michael Brierley opened the festival at the Portrait Room in the Bedford Hotel to launch the ten days of entertainment. This event has been expanded this year, both in terms of events and time — it now runs over ten days compared with five days last year and includes art and literacy fixtures, in an effort to appeal to even more people. At the hotel, festival chairman, Christopher Kirwin, introduced the festival, Mr Brierley opened the event and festival director, Simon Ible, spoke about the events to come. On Saturday the festival began with a free concert by Stannary Brass Band on Bedford Square, followed by two art exhibitions in the Portrait Room and at the Westall Art and Design Centre at Kelly College. Pictured is the Rev Michael Brierley with Tavistock mayor Caroline Keane, Helen Hazelwood, Simon Ible and Christopher Kirwin. Picture by Ian Snell
