The Summer brings outdoor free fun fast and furious! Following close on the heels of the Bermondsey Carnival on 28 June comes the Rotherhithe Festival this Saturday. Driven by a dedicated band of local volunteers, the Festival has become a stable part of Rotherhithe life over more than a decade. Supported by British Land – who own Surrey Quays Shopping Centre – and the Council, the Rotherhithe Festival Group – chaired by Barry Duckett – have given us a great day each time; their efforts were recognised this year at the Civic Awards by the Honorary Liberty of the Old Borough of Bermondsey. They always gives any surplus to a worthy cause; this year they are donating to the UCL Hospital Cancer Institute. Each year the Festival has a programme of music from the main stage, a range of children’s rides, face painting and other kid’s activities and stalls run by local organisations and networks. Their website gives more detail of the programme http://www.rotherhithefestival.co.uk/
The Rotherhithe Festival is on Saturday 5 July at King George’s Fields at the junction of Lower Road and Surrey Quays Road. The main entrance is in Moodkee Street around the block. The Festival will be opened at 11am by the newly installed Mayor of Southwark Cllr Sunil Chopra. The music styles on stages vary from jazz, to blues and boogie and culminate in the headline act Hustler. The sponsors include the Rotherhithe Consolidated Charities, the North Southwark Environment Trust and the St Olave and Bermondsey United Charities as well as Barratt Homes, Sellar and Keepmoat.
