The Festival with the Title “The Delights of Dorset” will involve many of the Flower Clubs across the County. There will be over 60 Tableaux and many other arrangements depicting interesting highlights of Dorset from the Jurassic Coast to the modern day traditions, all with the aim of filling the Minster both with colour and taste and smells of the Countryside. Featuring in the Festival is a 16-foot Dinosaur Demelza together with her baby Dino, the Shrine of St. Wite, Mary Anning, Isaac Gulliver, Corfe Castle, an Urban Fox stealing some sausages from a dustbin, whilst 100 sheep will be found among the arrangements. There will also be model trains to play with. The grand Parade of all these accessories and more will process from Park Lane, through Willow Walk, just before the Food Festival commences, and on through Crown Mead to the Minster, starting at 10.30 am on Saturday 20th September, just a few days before the Flower Festival itself takes place from Friday 26th to Monday 29th September.
This year is a special one for the Minster as it marks not only the 1300th anniversary of the death of its Patron Saint Cuthburga, who died on 31st August AD725, but also the 1320th anniversary of the original foundation of the Minster by St Cuthburga in AD705.
Sunday 31st August, the Minster will hold its Patronal Festival with the Bishop of Salisbury, The Right Revd Stephen Lake, preaching at both the 9.30 am Parish Eucharist and at Choral Evensong at 6.30 pm. The day will mark the start of the Cuthburga Festival as a number of events will be taking place throughout September including two Cuthburga Lectures, Organ Recitals/Concerts, the Charity Antiques Valuation Day (Tuesday 16th) and culminating with the Flower Festival and on the Sunday of the Festival, 28th September The Bishop of Sherborne The Right Revd Karen Gorham will preach at the 9.30 am Parish Eucharist.
Christine Oliver, who is the designer of the Festival, said, “The festival could not be achieved without the many volunteers who have given so much time and skill in making the accessories out of papier mâché, providing cakes, and serving teas, all to help in raising funds towards the cost of the flowers. We are grateful too to those firms and individuals who are kindly sponsoring various arrangements, including the Wimborne BID. A team is now eagerly awaiting being involved in the actual Festival.”
Advance tickets for the Festival costing £7.50 each can be purchased from Carnival Flowers in Poole Road, Wimborne or from the Parish Office in Church House (next to the Minster) weekday mornings only except Wednesdays. Coach Parties are welcome. Any further details required can be obtained from the Minsters Publicity Officer on: witsend@familyoliver.org.uk or telephone 01202 888703.
