AFTER all the preparation over many months and years, the 11th Romsey Festival finally opens tomorrow.

With an exciting mix of exhibitions and events of all sorts, organisers are anticipating good support from residents and visitors.

The first three events all start at 10.30am. King John’s House is the venue for Agincourt Day, a great chance for children to enjoy experiencing mediaeval life with a re-enactment society; meanwhile the Romsey & District Society lead their first of several walks exploring Romsey’s waterways, and the Romsey & District Railway Modellers have an exhibition in the Abbey URC Hall. These three events are all designed with families in mind.

Festival chairman Dick Hewett says he is looking forward to a full programme of events.

“This festival has been over two years in planning, and now it is important that organisers, participants and the public alike all enjoy the fruits of the hard work which has been put in by so many people. Thanks are due to everyone who has been, and will be, involved with what will be a memorable two weeks for Romsey and the surrounding area.”

A host of exhibitions are open throughout the Festival featuring the many creative arts, including local studios at Stable House in Newton Lane and “Christine’s Art House” in Albany Road, as well as Rum’s Eg in Bell Street. Romsey Abbey, the Abbey URC, and Romsey Methodist Church all host exhibitions of one sort or another every day.

Some of the smaller venues around the town will host a wide variety of events, aptly illustrated by four contrasting events on the evening of Wednesday July 5. These include Chester House Productions’ “Florence Nightingale” in Romsey Library, and the President’s 30th Anniversary Concert at the Lantern Theatre, Mountbatten School. On the same evening Quattrio provide an evening of Baroque chamber music in the Abbey URC, and Cuckoo Pint provide folk music in King John’s House.

More light-hearted entertainment is available later in the week, as Mark Ponsford returns to the town for his much loved music and musings at the Town Hall on Thursday 6th July, whilst Pocket Theatre provide an evening of songs and sketches at Michelmersh Church on Friday 7th. Both events will doubtless feature some much-loved samples of Gilbert & Sullivan, often given a new twist.

King John’s House is the venue for three morning talks during the first week, with a history of this fascinating building on Monday 3rd, Charlie Dimmock giving some insights of her own on Wednesday 5th, and news of a study into historic graffiti on Friday 7th, all starting at 10.30am.

For those seeking more spiritual moments, Revd Mike Perrott will be leading around 30 mins reflection through poetry, prose and prayer at 9.30am each weekday morning in the Abbey URC, whilst choral evensong will be sung on most days at 5.30pm, usually in Romsey Abbey. These follow on from the Festival Opening Service at 6.30pm in the Abbey URC on Sunday 2nd July.

These are just some of the events during the first week of the Festival. Details of the full programme are available on the Festival website, www.romseyfestival.org.

The majority of events in the Festival are free, with donations sometimes invited. Tickets for those with an entrance charge can be obtained through www.romseyfestival.org, or through Romsey Visitor and Information Centre in Church Street, 01794 512987.