Press Information for 2010
- July 2010
RACING FOR PLUM-TOWN AS 71-YEAR-OLD HORSE RACE REVIVED
The world's only plum festival is celebrating this year with the revival of a
horse race that's over 70 years old - one of just a handful of races reinstated
in the last hundred years. Pershore, located in the heart of Worcestershire, is
the country's plum capital and holds the Pershore Plum Festival every year
throughout August.
The Land O'Plums Handicap Steeple Chase, first run in 1899, was once as famous a
race on the National Hunt Calendar as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It used to take
place on Pershore's very own race-course but this disappeared when it became an
army base during WW11. Instead, it will be held at Worcester Race Course on
August 6th - the feature race of a meeting named in honour of the plum festival
- the Pershore Plum Festival Family Fun Race Day.
The day looks set to be purple perfection - race goers are being encouraged to
sport the colour, the souvenir race card will be plum themed together with a
host of plum sampling opportunities.
Adults and children alike will be able to have their faces painted purple and
the event commences with an Ascot-style grand parade with the famous Hook Norton
Shire Horses and Dray as well as Prunella the Pershore Purple Plum, Queen
Victoria and the newly-crowned Plum Princess.
Racing enthusiast, Roy Hirons, who is Pershore born-and-bred, will be hosting a
display of Pershore Racecourse and Land O'Plums Chase memorabilia at the event
and it is even hoped that the original winning post from Pershore racecourse
will be erected for the day.
Another feature race includes the Tiddesley Wood Yellow Egg Plum Handicup Hurdle
which commemorates the fruit originally discovered in the 1830s - the forebear
of the Pershore Purple.
Commenting on the revival, of the Land O'Plums Chase, tourism officer for
Wychavon and Chair of the Pershore Plum Festival, Angela Tidmarsh, said:
"The Festival has grown considerably in the last two years and the race is going
to be one of the plum events. We've also added guided plum coach tours to the
festival this year following in the successful wake of the Blossom Trail and our
Asparabus Tours".
The Festival concludes on 30th August with the Pershore Plum Fayre Day and
Farmer's Market - the town's biggest annual event. To find out more, visit
www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk
ENDS
For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Sara
Stewart on 07833 467774.
Gates open at 12.30 at Worcester Race Course on 6th August with the first race
at 2.20pm. Following the final race of the day at 5.20pm, the course plays host
to the annual Jump Jockey football challenge match featuring Ireland vs. the
rest of the world.
PLUM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Pershore Plum Geocache - Trail co-ordinates available from
www.geocaching.com
24th July 7.30pm Plum Princess Gala Evening at Number 8
31st July Pershore Plum Festival Launch in Chapman Court (Plum Alley)
Pershore
6th August Pershore Plum Festival Family Fun Race Day at Worcester
Racecourse
18th & 26th August Plum Tours - a Guided coach tour around Pershore and the
Vale of Evesham
28th & 29th August Plum Stock - at Pershore Working Mens Club; headlining
bands to date; Terasunda and The Gypsy Pistoleros
28th to 30th August The Big Plum Beer, Food and Music Festival at the Angel Inn
Hotel, Pershore
30th August Pershore Plum Fayre Day and Farmers Market in Pershore Town
Centre
Pershore's Plum Alley will be open every Saturday throughout the festival.
Press release 26/7/10
PLUM PRINCESS CROWNED AT GALA EVENING
The 2010 Pershore Plum Princess was crowned at a Gala Evening held at Number 8 Community Arts Centre on Saturday night. Freya Baah aged 8 will be representing the Festival at the many events planned for the coming month ably assisted by her two attendants, Grace Whittaker aged 9 and Olivia Addis aged 7 The Gala Evening - a new event for this year was the brainchild and organised by local business woman Judith Synnuck from The Little Shoebox (who sponsored this years Princess competition) and with more than 150 in the auditorum it proved to be an extremely popular evening. Providing the musical entertainment were 5 incredibly talented local singers, Laura Synnuck, Tess Carter, Nick Long, Meghan Hill, Richard Hulburt who wowed the audience with their renditions of songs from the musicals.
"I am delighted that the evening proved so successful and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, said Judith Synnuck - and not only have we provided Pershore with an additional Festival event (which I hope will continue for many years to come), we also have the added bonus of having three adorable young ladies who I know will welcome the opportunity of playing such an important part of the Plum Festival activities over the coming weeks" 
The first event that Freya and her attendants will be at is the Plum Festival launch on Saturday 31st July - starting at 10am, Purple balloons festooned throughout the town will mark the start of this increasingly popular month long Festival for which the town is becoming nationally known. Dont miss all the plum products that will be on sale in Plum Alley outside Asda; Prunella the Pershore Purple Plum, Queen Victoria, childrens activities, plum sausages, cheese, soaps, jams, preserves, and new for this year unique Plum Festival merchandise. Also in attendance this year will be representatives from the Vale Heritage Landscape Trust who will be on hand to provide plum advice and tastings - not to mention the opportunity to buy the first crop of the finest Vale Plums. The official opening will take place at 11am performed by the Mayor of Pershore, Cllr Chris Parsons in the presence of the newly crowned Princess, musical entertainment will be provided by the Dene River Jazz Men from 10.30am until noon
Angela Tidmarsh, Chair of the Plum Festival Committee said "I am overwhelmed at the enthusiasm and commitment that the volunteer Festival Committee have shown this year to organising all the activities for this ever popular Festival which is undoubtedly putting Pershore on the map! I do hope that locals and visitors alike will support all the events that are planned throughout Augusts which of course starts with the launch on Saturday and then we have the Pershore Plum Festival Family Fun Race Day at Worcester Racecourse on Friday 6th August - Dont miss it !", For information concerning all the Plum Festival events throughout August visit www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk or call 01386 565373 (24 hrs) Note for Editors ; Photo opportunity - 11am Plum Alley (Chapman Court) Pershore on Saturday 31st July for official launch of Plum Festival
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Field Barn
Evesham Road
Cleeve Prior
Evesham
Worcestershire
WR11 8JX
01789 778 582
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/valetrust
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate use
Walk, Talk and Pick Your Own!
This weekend is your chance to pick, and learn about, the two Pershore Plum varieties. “A Celebration of Pershore Plums” is being held at Hipton Hill Orchards, Lenchwick on the 14th and 15th, from 11am to 2pm.
Local fruit professional, John Edgeley, says “These fruits were tremendously important for the Vale, and deserve to be celebrated. They should also have a big future, if people value tasty, local plums.”
John will explain the history and growing of these local varieties, and Vale Landscape Heritage Trust will be on hand to show you around their orchards. Afterwards, there will be a rare chance to Pick Your Own plums on this 70 acre nature reserve.
To book your place, or for more details, please contact Andy Davies, manager at the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust on 01789 778 582 or email valetrust@tiscali.co.uk
END OF PRESS RELEASE
If you want any further information or images please contact
Andy at 01789 778 582 or 07727 241 135
VLHT owns 200 acres of meadow, orchard and wood in the Vale.
They are supported enormously by Severn Waste Services in their practical work.
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The BBC comes to Town! August 2009 The Plum Festival received some welcome promotion when the BBC visited Pershore. BBC Midlands Today - stalwart supporters of the event filmed "plummy happenings" throughout the town.
Prunella Ken Tallis - Abbey Butchers Plum Princess & Attendent
Alan Gregg - Horticultural Expert Kate Mackie - BBC Presenter in Sugar & Spice Tea Rooms
Carole from Just Gorgeous - Plum Nail Art Emily choosing Pershore Purples from Fruit Salad
Angela Tidmarsh - Chair of Plum Festival Committee |
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Press Release - 3/08/09Princess is crowned as Plum Fever hits town! Forget Swine Flu – Plum Fever hit town last Saturday as the Pershore Plum Festival got off to a wet but wonderful start. Claire Howson, aged 9 was crowned 2009 Plum Princess by the town Mayor, Cllr Chris Parsons at the Retail Market, and Prunella the Pershore Purple Plum made her debut to the world.
Hosting the Launch, Town Crier, Robert Speight, accompanied by Prunella and Queen Victoria Plum hailed the event as an outstanding success.
To herald the start of this month long Festival 200 purple balloons adorned the facades and balconies of the Georgian Market town and early plums and plum goodies were sold in abundance in High Street shops and throughout the Retail Market.
Producer of the new White Stilton & Plum Cheese, made especially for this years Plum Festival – Ken Tallis from Abbey Butchers said “I was anxious to produce something appropriate to honour and support the Plum Festival and after 4 months of trialling different cheeses containing plums, I am delighted that this Stilton proved so popular – the event was a resounding success and a marvellous day for Pershore”
Numerous events and activities supporting the Plum Festival continue throughout the month. Call 01386 556591 for details, visit www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk or follow www.twitter.com/PlumFestival
Note for Editors: Photo Opportunity Prunella – the Pershore Purple Plum has been invited to take part in a “Plum Day” being organised in support of the Plum Festival at the Hopscotch Summer Club, Holy Redeemer Primary School, Priest Lane, Pershore on Thursday 6th August at 12noon.
Activities will include Plum and Spoon racing, Plum Bobbing, Plum Tossing, Plum racing with purple painted faces, cooking plum flap jacks and of course eating the good old Pershore Purples!
For more information please call Holly Taylor on 07990 531407
Press Release - 28/07/09 Heavy Plum Crop promises ripe future for Festival
Organisers of the Countrys' only month long Plum Festival are overjoyed with the latest news from Horticultural experts who are predicting the heaviest plum crop for years is expected in the coming weeks.
This plum spectacle takes place in Pershore in the heart of Worcestershire and starts on Saturday 1st August with the crowning of the Plum Princess and the first public appearance of Prunella, the Pershore Purple Plum
Pershores' long association with plums started almost 180 years ago with the discovery of the Pershore Yellow egg plum growing wild in a nearby wood and 60 years later the Pershore Purple was produced by a local market gardener.
In celebration of the fruit for which Pershore is famous, locals turn this riverside market town purple throughout August and a plethora of plummy events take place including The Plum Jam - a musical extravaganza and The BIG Plum Beer, Music and Food Festival
Childrens activities, plum competitions and plum products are "a plenty" throughout the month, including plum sausages, cheese, soap and slippers to name just a few
Plum Fayre Day on August Bank Holiday Monday is the culmination of the Festival and 2009 promises to be bigger and better than ever before with the event being opened by Trevor Harrison aka Eddie Grundy from the BBC RAdio 4s' series "The Archers" who has written an "Ode to the Pershore Plum" and many plum events and activities taking place throughout the town.
For further information on all Festival events please visit www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk or follow us on
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Town Clerk, Robert Spreight and Prunella the Pershore Purple Plum
Claire Howson, aged 9 - the 2009 Plum Princess  White Stilton & Plum Cheese- produced especially for the Plum Festival by Abbey Butchers |
