THANKS very much to everyone who attended or supported The Wirral Festival of Music, Speech and Drama this year.

It was a very successful event over two weekends with fantastic performances from many children and adults across all classes.

We added new classes which proved popular.

The Music Festival added World War 1 or 2 songs and a singer / songwriter class.

In the Speech and Drama Festival we also had a new class called 'come and entertain us'.

The Mayor, Ann McLachlan and consort Bill McLachlan attended the music festival and enjoyed what they saw.

The variety of talent displayed by children and adults was amazing.

We would also like to thank our kind sponsors who have either given us a grant or provided cups for new classes.

These are: The Olivia Rae Foundation, Mid Wirral Rotary Club and The Arts Society Wirral (young arts).

The dates for next year's festival are:

Speech and Drama, March 15 and 16 

Music, March 22 and 23.

The syllabus will be available on our website early September.

I would encourage all to look at our website (www.wirralfestival.co.uk) where you will find photos of the festival and winners from both weekends.

The festival is open to amateurs who sing, play an instrument or act in the form of solos, duologues, mime, character studies to name a few classes.

The Wirral Festival of Music, Speech and Drama has been running since 1949.

It provides a safe, supportive environment for amateurs to gain confidence in performing within their chosen field of music, speech or drama.

Adjudicators provide constructive feedback on individual performances and give suggestions of how to enhance a performance.

It is really important that it continues to attract more and more entrants each year.

Please join us and help support your Wirral festival.

Caitlin Edwards (Chair) by email