GUNNISLAKE Festival begins next Wednesday (July 31) with four full days of music and arts.

By popular demand, there will be another screening of the nostalgic film 'Silent Valley', reflecting the village and surrounding area as it used to be, in the public hall on the Wednesday at 7.30pm.

The hall will then be taken over for the History Exhibition staged by Mandy Rolfe on the Friday and Saturday. Friday will also see the Callington Singers evening performance of sacred music in St, Ann's Church. Also in the Church Hall during the four days, the Festival Group of Artists will be showing off their talents.

On August 3 the village will come alive with music, dancing, theatre, competitions and stalls including another treat from the Gunnislake Local Amateur Dramatic Society (GLAD) during the afternoon.

This year as well as Morris Dancers, the Turnpike Strolling Jazz Men will form part of the procession into the display area and will also play during the afternoon. Popular band Yorkie will be supported by crooner Michael Campari, Blue Angel, Solitaire and Doc & Ronnie while there will be a funfair, bouncy castle and Punch and Judy for the children.

Shelterbox will have a display and there will be plenty of stalls and refreshments to choose from. Throughout the festival the four local hostelries will have their own bands and activities to complement the village attractions.

Unusually this year before the start of the festival, on Saturday, Stephen Docksey, well known local historian, will lead a walk in memory of the late Brian Spencer, whose local history walks, along with Stephen's, have been a very enriching feature of the last few Gunnislake Festivals. The walk will be a tribute to a very popular man whose untime demise has left a hole in many lives.

The walk 'Above and Below the Railway Line from Drakewalls Depot to Chilsworthy Halt' will be from 7pm to 9pm and the meeting place is Gunnislake Station car park. Please wear stout boots or shoes. Donations of £2 per person will be for the Calstock Parish Archive. Enquiries (for the walk only) to 01822 834454.