Opening Reception

7:30 pm – St Leonard’s Church

Celebration event to open the Festival and its Art Exhibition – and to recognise all the roles played by the whole community in the many achievements of our 5-year heritage project – featuring:

• formal opening of the Festival by Annie Brewster JP, the High Sheriff for Hertfordshire
• the private view of our Art Exhibition, with some amazing art on display and for sale
• mediaeval-inspired canapés with a glass or two of something celebratory
• cocktail piano with Claire Hayward
• information about the rest of the Festival – an eclectic mix of arts and heritage
• an informal gathering of people contributing to arts and heritage in our local area.

Admission through advance booking only.

Revue: Come Rain, Come Shine

7:30 pm – St Leonard’s Church

A sparkling musical entertainment – with a rural twist.

Starring Carole Boyd: Lynda Snell in Radio 4’s The Archers

Also starring Nicola Keen & Michael Winsor

Musical Director Malcolm McKee

This heart-warming and hilarious evening – in celebration of the British countryside – features poetry, prose, anecdote and song by Flanders & Swann, Noël Coward, Mrs Beeton, Dylan Thomas, Gilbert & Sullivan, Kenneth Graham, A.E.Housman, Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin and many more.

“scintillating . . . a complete tonic”     – Birmingham Post

“very enjoyable, very English . . . delightful”    – Surrey Advertiser

Heritage Craft Fair

10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Churchyard and Village Hall

demonstrations and displays of traditional crafts with local interest:

Agriculture: vintage plough and tractors
Blacksmithing: Peter Williamson, Petefire Artist Blacksmiths
Brick & Flintwork: Lynn Mathias, Mathias Restoration
Hedge Laying & Tree Identification: Donato Cinicolo
Flint and Stonework: Joe Orsi, Historic Buildings Consultant
Pottery: Emily Good Pottery
Straw Hat Making & Plaiting: Sophie Lambe, Reel Millinery
Timber Framing: Louis Curtis, Breakspear Conservation
Wood Carving: Luke Chapman, woodcarver, wood-sculptor, designer

Birds of Prey display

10:00 am to 4:00 pm (static display); flights at 12:00 noon & 3:00 pm – Churchyard

Imperial Birds of Prey Academy: four birds on display: Barn Owl, Harris Hawk, Hooded Vulture, Peregrine Falcon; two flights with three of the birds.

Bell ringing demonstration

10:00 am to 4:00 pm  – Churchyard

The Mobile Belfries Trust. Demonstrations and have-a-go at church bell-ringing on the new Touring Tower.

Talk

2:00 pm – St Leonard’s Church

Matthew Champion: “Stories in Stone: the hidden histories of St Leonard’s”

A talk on his detailed building and graffiti surveys of St Leonard’s Church, to try to uncover its long and complex history. It should be a fascinating detective story, illustrating how our understanding can evolve over time. (free admission; no need to book)

More

Food & Drink: Blue Tangerine Horsebox Cafe, by Spotted Dog; BBQ at the Three Blackbirds (from 12:00 pm)

Morris Dancing: Aldbury Morris Men, outside the Three Blackbirds, from approx 1:00 pm

Volunteering & scarecrow making: Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, In the Churchyard, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Learn more about the 20th Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, taking place this year from Friday 16th – Sunday 18th August 2024. Be amazed at photos of past scarecrow creations, learn more about what we’re planning for 2024, and find out how you can get involved, joining in the fun! And from June 3rd to 9th, it’s national Volunteers’ Week.

Church tours: inside St Leonard’s, see chalkboard for times

Local history: Redbourn Village Museum, Village Hall, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Local history: History of the Village Hall, Village Hall,10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Building Conservation: The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)

In Concert: Ben Earle

7:30 pm – St Leonards Church

from the Shires (and friends)
Ben has fitted this special ‘home village gig’ into a busy countrywide tour of the Shires new album.

Celebration Church Service

11:15 am to 12:30 pm – St Leonard’s Church

To celebrate 800 years since the dedication of St Leonard’s in 1223, led by The Very Rev’d Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans.

The church in Flamstead was dedicated to St Leonard of Noblac when it became a separate parish in 1223. The consecration would have been celebrated annually in mediaeval times, but in the recent century it has been every 50 years, with the last such being in 1973. So we are a year late.

Relax in the Churchyard

12:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Churchyard

Quarter Peal on the church bells: to commemorate the recent refurbishment of the bells: district bell ringers
Barbeque: run by Friends of Flamstead School (from 12:45 pm)
Musical entertainment: from Katie’s Jumping Fleas Ukulele Band
Wood carving: Luke Chapman, woodcarver, wood sculptor, designer
Old fashioned children’s games: Peter Templeman (no screens)
Display of children’s art competition (Village Hall)
Volunteering & scarecrow making: Flamstead Scarecrow Festival (as on Saturday)
Church tours: inside St Leonard’s, see chalkboard for time

Art Exhibition and Sale

St Leonard’s Church
10:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday to Sunday except when church is in use

Artists exhibiting: Linda Brown • Virginia Corbett • Haydn Dickenson • Emily Good • Roy Goodman • Julia Ramsay • Dione Verulam • Esther Wragg • Stephen Wragg.