Trust Thamesmead Festival

The 2009 Trust Thamesmead Summer Festival took place on Saturday, 11 July.

The day started at Hawksmoor Youth Centre where approximately 400 Thamesmead school pupils and community groups took part in the festival parade. Led by Taru Brazil, they walked carnival style through Bentham Road onto Southwood Road and into Birchmere Park, where they paraded around the site before taking part in a fashion show on the community platform.

As the Trust Thamesmead marquee, community stalls, Children’s Zone, party tent, farmyard and Chocolate Films began, so did the main stage, which started with the Trust’s annual talent contest’s final, The T Factor. Six Thamesmead residents battled it out to win the final, which would see them support the headline act at the festival and a recording session at Abbey Music Studios. “Trust Thamesmead offered all six finalists the chance to work with Thamesmead performing arts group, Theatre Street to improve their stage presence and work on an act that would impress the judges.” said Trust Thamesmead’s Marketing and Communications Officer Julia Hickson, who led The T Factor and festival main stage. “All six did really well. The judges found it really hard to choose a winner but they had to pick someone and that person was 20 year old Becky Downes.” adding: “Becky has an amazing voice and sounds uncannily similar to chart singer Adele.”

Also on the main stage were a range of artists to reflect the residents of Thamesmead, including a flamenco act, an African band, tribute acts: High Skool Musicool, Take That 2, Alan Beck as Dean Martin, The Great Pretender, Brian Rock and the HRH Band as Queen and of course Laura White from ITV’1s The X Factor, who not only sung a 40 minute set and introduced The T Factor winner back onto the stage but stayed behind for more than an hour, signing autographs for fans.

Trust Thamesmead’s CEO Mick Hayes said: “It was fantastic to see so many families turning out to enjoy the day.” Adding: “Trust Thamesmead would like to thank everyone who had a positive involvement, from sponsors to the police but most of all the community; festival goers and participants.”

Main Stage
	This year's main stage will entertain everyone from the age of one to 101. With a Flamenco group, African band, tribute acts and The T Factor Final taking place, the difficulty will be what time you should look around the festival site.
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Activity and Wellbeing Zone
	Discover the wide range of Thamesmead community groups and local organisations offering massages, climbing, majorettes, football and more! Who would have thought so much goes on every day in Thamesmead?!
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Children's Zone
	We've got fun and games all day, with everything from face painting to infatables, arts and crafts to sand/water play. All this and more; with so much excitement the little ones are bound to go home happy and ready for a good night's sleep.
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Chocolate Films
	A unique chance to see films from the early days of Thamesmead including the first ever film of the development in the 60s. This event is being filmed for an upcoming documentary, so come along and share your memories on camera.
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Farmyard Fun
	We are bringing a farm to Thamesmead and not only that, the animals, which will include goats, ducks, geese and guinea pigs will be available to touch. All this and donkey rides too! Ewe'll kick yourself if you miss it!
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Meet the Trust
	"We do more than festivals!" Pop into the Trust Thamesmead tent to see for yourself the fantastic multi-million pound projects we are bringing to Thamesmead and find out more about us and the great services we offer Thamesmead residents.
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Community Parade
	The Thamesmead festival parade is back and with up to 400 people taking part, it will be carnival to remember. Starting at Hawksmoor Youth Club at 9:30am and making its way to Birchmere Park to parade around.
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Community Stalls
	Every year different Thamesmead community groups get involved in the festival, by taking up the opportunity to run a stall on the day and this year is no different! There will be 30 stalls in all, so pop by and say hello.
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Water Activity Zone
	This year the festival site includes Birchmere Lake where the guys from Thamesmead YMCA Sailing Centre will be offering taster sailing sessions. Give it a go - you might take to it like a duck to water!
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Party Tent
	Get your dance shoes on and get ready to limbo in the party tent, including stilt walkers, balloon modelling, arts and crafts, glitter tattoos and more!
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Festival Programme and Sponsors
	The festival programme is your hand held guide to the day's festival. Featuring all the information on this festival website including a map of what is where, you could print it off and take it with you.
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