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The Forncetts will be coming alive at the end of June as a major festival lights up the area with a week of varied and top class entertainment and events.

The three parishes of Forncett End, Forncett St Peter and Forncett St Mary will combine to celebrate summer with a traditional English festival that will include choirs, a swing band, a flower festival, a barbecue and a performance from Norfolk’s own Keith Skipper.

The festival runs from Saturday 23^rd June until Sunday 1^st July inclusive and begins with a flower festival and exhibition by renowned nature photographer Carol Sharp in St Peter’s Church on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th June from 10 a.m until 4 p.m.

Keith Skipper will be putting his own inimitable spin on life with “All Preachers Great and Small” in St Peter’s Church on Wednesday 27^th June and the week will also feature entertainment as varied and diverse as choirs, open gardens, ghostly tales by candlelight, historical celebrations featuring music from the Tudor and Cromwellian times and Appalachian folk song.

Most of the performances will take place in the historic 11 century setting of St Peter’s Church as one of the organisers Jackie Scully explained: “It’s particularly fitting that we can use the church for many of the performances as it is Forncett’s largest public space and has naturally good acoustics.

It will be the first time the Forncetts have staged such an ambitious festival which has been put together by a committee of eight. A full list of events is as follows:

Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th June: Flower festival with photo exhibition by Carol Sharp in St Peter’s Church from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Entry £1.

Saturday 23^rd June: Young people’s performance with Forncett Clangers and Barnham Broom Girls’ Choir. Barbecue and wine evening at the Tas Valley Vineyard from 6 p.m to 10.30 p.m with music from 8 p.m from the 1930s to 1960s with swing band Pavilion. Tickets £6, child and concessions £4 or family ticket £15 (not including barbecue and drinks).

Sunday 24^th June: Open Gardens and plant sale at Four Seasons Perennials. A park and ride scheme will be available with a vintage bus taking people between gardens. Gardens will be open from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Tickets £4, children and concessions £3, family ticket £10.

Monday 25^th June: Ghostly tales by Candlelight with Bob McClenning and John Brookes for adults and young people with strong constitutions. St Peter’s Church 7.30 p.m. Tickets £4, children and concessions £3.

Wednesday 27^th June: Keith Skipper presents “All Preachers Great and Small” in St Peter’s Church at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £8, children and concessions £6, families £20 (to include refreshments).

Thursday 28^th June: Concert by the Front Room Singers and re-dedication of the restored Holdich organ in St Peter’s Church at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £4, children and concessions £3, families £10

Friday 29^th June: Minstrels’ Gallery – music and talks from Tudor to Cromwellian times in St Peter’s Church at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £8, children and concessions £6, families £20, includes refreshments.

Saturday 30^th June: Claire Watkins presents Appalachian folk songs accompanied on dulcimer. Also includes flute and saxophone music by Silver Keys and Brass Belles in St Peter’s Church at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £5, children and concessions £4, families £12.

Sunday 1^st July: Celebration of Forncett Festival with South Norfolk Singers and Tas Valley Choir in St Peter’s Church 3 p.m. Free entry but tickets required.

Family tickets cover two adults and up to two related children between the ages of three and 16. Under-3s are free. Any tickets available on the door for the various events will be charged at £1 extra.

Any proceeds from the event will go towards essential repairs at St Peter’s Church. Tickets are available from the Ticket Office, 10 Bentley Road, Forncett End, Norwich, NR16 1LH. More information and booking details are also available by telephoning either 01508 530729 or 01953 789752. The festival also has its own web site at www.forncett.org.uk/festival