Graeme Kidd, Ludlow Food Festival director and civic leader who died earlier this year, is to be remembered by the festival with the creation of a bursary and a demonstration pavilion.
Both will be unveiled at this year’s Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival on September 11, 12 and 13.
Graeme died aged 53. He was one of the original small group of people who hatched the idea of a Food Festival more than 15 years ago.
Back in the 1990s market owners were going through hard times as people’s shopping habits changed. Graeme and his colleagues, felt something was needed to give the local economy a boost and the food festival was born.
“So it is fitting that 2009 will see the unveiling of the Graeme Kidd bursary. Its money will be used to help the next generation of food producers and workers by supporting them with their first steps in the industry,” said festival’s operations director Beth Heath,
This September’s event will also include a pavilion in the Castle Garden area with a stage from which guest experts will provide talks and demonstrations. It will bring to three the number of festival stages giving free demonstrations. It will be officially named the ‘Graeme Kidd Pavilion’ at this year’s festival.
A festival restaurant is another new feature, to be sited in the castle’s inner bailey, where folk will be served a two course meal, cooked by a local chef using local seasonal produce.
“There will be the chance to get a table on the day, but this cannot be guaranteed as this area is expected to fill up fast, so book now and get your entry plus a two course meal for £29.95,” said Beth
For full details on all this see www.foodfestival.co.uk