We were delighted with the number of people who travelled the length and breadth of the Dales on a Februaryish afternoon to attend our Volunteers’ Afternoon at Reeth Memorial Hall. This is the annual opportunity to meet our delightful, hardworking (and stylish!) Volunteers Coordinator, Maria Laybourn, and to find out about the myriad volunteering opportunities at Swaledale Festival. These include stewarding at concerts, walks and workshops, meeting and driving incredible artists and performers round the Dales and sometimes even hosting them in your home!
The Memorial Hall was abuzz with around fifty people - a mix of familiar faces and plenty of new folks too. Attendees received the infamous spread of savoury and sweet treats, a hot drink and a warm welcome from the Festival’s new Artistic Director, Fraser Wilson, who had a little surprise in the form of an audio recording from Matilda Lloyd, one of this year’s big stars.
Speaking from Vienna Airport, where she was on her way home following a trumpet and organ concert at The Golden Hall, Matilda shared the following message:
“I’m very excited to be coming to the Dales in May to play with Royal Northern Sinfonia. And in fact this will be my return to the Festival because I’ve performed before with my trumpet group Sonos Trumpet Ensemble, and we played in Grinton which was such a beautiful church. So I have seen and already experienced first-hand how wonderful the volunteering is at the Festival. You were all so helpful, and so friendly, and made us feel so welcome. And I hear that you guys have won awards for your volunteering, so congratulations for that.
"On behalf of all of the artists performing in the Festival this year, thank you so much for everything you do, and I’m really looking forward to meeting and seeing you all in a few months, when hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer than it is now. See you very soon!"
We at the Festival want to second Matilda’s words: a big shout out to all the marvellous volunteers who give their time and energy so generously to make the Festival happen. Thank you!
And special thanks to Scenicview Gallery for the photos, too.