TEWKESBURY LAUNCHES PLANS FOR DAZZLING DISPLAY TO END OVER THE RAINBOW
Plans to create the largest, and most spectacular, firework display that Tewkesbury has ever seen are underway to mark the finale of Over the Rainbow, a week-long series of events to mark the year anniversary of the summer floods.
As darkness falls on Sunday 20th July, the sky around Tewkesbury Abbey will light up with a stunning pyrotechnic display set in time to a specially compiled selection of music.
The highlights include the recreation of a rainbow and a series of silver waterfalls that will be launched from the Abbey roof and cascade down the south wall
As the last firework dims, the Abbey bells will ring out to mark the end Over the Rainbow and demonstrate that the floods of summer 2007, which made headlines across the world, are history and the town is well and truly back in business.
The culmination of the week on the 20th July, the first anniversary, include a special service in the Abbey, a party in the park at the Vineyards and two concerts featuring a range of nationally-renowned musicians varying from folk to ska punk.
To create a community event that can be enjoyed by as many people as possible, special permission has been given to close Church Street to traffic for the day.
At midday, the plan is that thousands of people will join hands and surround the Abbey to signify where the water lay a year ago. An aerial photograph will be taken to recreate the iconic image which was flashed around the world 12 months ago showing the Abbey as an island.
“By getting as many people as we can to hug the Abbey we want to show the world that, whilst the floods were devastating and caused untold grief and suffering for many people, we are a vibrant and resilient community,” explains Canon Paul Williams, one of the principal organisers of Over the Rainbow. “Tewkesbury is very much back in business and the town is a fantastic place to live and work.”
Over the Rainbow is being made possible with the help of a number of local businesses who have given their services free or at a much-reduced rate. Black Bear events are managing the logistics of the events on the 20th July, Leisurelec are providing their technical expertise for the staging of the concerts and Jon Benns who owns the Music Trade in Church Street has organised the concert. Professional help in-kind is being provided by Rare Marketing, Vivid, Thomson & Bancks and Smartline.
Sponsorship money to stage Over the Rainbow has been donated by local businesses including Cotteswold Dairy, Oberthur Technology, Warners, Moog, Mudie Bond, Severn Vale Housing, TRL Technology, and the JP Group.
Donations have also been received from Gloucestershire First, Severn Trent and Ecclesiastical.
Gary Essex of Black Bear Events said: “This is a huge event for the Tewkesbury and it will certainly make history in its own right. We are very fortunate in having so many experts on our doorstep to help us make this a memorable event for all the right reasons.”
Jon Benns has used his knowledge and contacts within the music industry to secure leading folk band Show of Hands and Who Tribute band My Generation to headline in the afternoon with his own band Happy Accidents. In the evening he has secured the services of popular local bands Which Way Up and Spunge as well as the acclaimed indie rock band Subkicks.
“Music is at the heart of every great event,” explains Jon. “We’ve got a great line-up of talent for the day and I think there is something to appeal to everyone.”
Representing businesses on the Over the Rainbow organising committee, Bruce Keen Chairman of Tewkesbury Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a member of the J9 Group, says he is proud of how business is flourishing. “For a lot of businesses in Tewkesbury, the recovery has taken many months,” explains Bruce. “But we are all determined that we would be back on our feet as quickly as we could. Over the Rainbow, and the level of support that business is giving the event, shows how proud we are of our community and commitment to its future prosperity.”
Councillor Brian Calway, Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough Council adds: “There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for this event in a very short time but we are all committed to giving the town an event it deserves and remembers with fondness for many years to come.”
Ends 23rd June 2008
Issued by Vivid. For further details or photographs please contact Lauren Jones on 07976450443 or email lauren@thevividconsultancy.com