A RALLYING call has been issued to businesses and local people to get involved in a major festival to mark the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Evesham.
The huge festival was formally launched this week at All Saints Church and is expected to be the biggest festival in the Vale’s rich history.
And organisers hope the event, which will take place on August 8 and 9 2015, will provide a huge cash boost to Evesham’s tourism income which already stands at £24million a year.
The festival will mark 750 years since the Battle of Evesham, a conflict between the legendary Simon de Montfort and Prince Edward.
De Montfort lost his life at the battle but not before he established the first recognised gathering known as Parliament.
Organisers hope to attract major political names to the Vale as part of the build up to celebrations and have invited businesses across Evesham to play their part.
Antonia Coles, from organisers JTT Events, hosted the evening which saw in excess of 100 people from the town gather to find out more about the event.
“This will be a fabulous, wonderful medieval festival.” she said.
“We have a range of activities planned from augmented reality, where you will be able to see a soldier from the time on the
streets of Evesham to bus tours to the field of battle in Greenhill.”
Live battles, a variety of medieval and outdoor displays, tours and treasure trails, a festival loyalty scheme, medieval banquets and community events are just part of what will be a packed programme.
Among the speakers at the event were Clive Bostle from the Simon De Montfort Society while Evesham’s MP Sir Peter Luff
recorded a video message for the occasion.
And Shawn Riley, manager of Evesham Market Town Partnership, hoped the event would provide a major cash injection to
the town centre’s economy.
“Tourism in Evesham is worth £24million a year. Here is a real opportunity for us to do something with national and
international significance.” he added.
