THE WOMAN who makes predictions on events using the Vale’s famous green crop said the Asparagus Festival provides the area with a huge financial boost.
Asparamancer Jemima Packington, originally from Pershore, was one of several special guests at Wednesday’s (April 23) launch at the Fleece Inn and Broadway Tower to mark the start of the three-month festival.
In recent years Jemima has used asparagus to predict outcomes from General Elections to personal fortunes of celebrities and speaking to the Observer she said the annual festival gets more and more fun each year.
“This is once again a great day for the Vale.” she said.
“Ive been coming to the launch events since the festival started in 2008 when they were at the Bell Tower and each year it gets better and better. It always brings such a wonderful atmosphere.
“These are difficult times for everybody at the moment and I think its great Evesham has got something as unique as this which does generate interest worldwide.
Jemima has also appeared on the TV screens in recent years with predictions most notably on Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit On The Side – the spin-off show for Big Brother.
And the asparamancer revealed to the Observer she turned down the chance to live in the house as a contestant in this year’s show which starts later this summer.
“They (producers) asked me whether I would like to be a contestant in this year’s show but I had to turn it down.
“I said no because I wanted to carry on with my work on the outside. I don’t know how I would have coped in there to be honest.”
