Ludlow Food Festival’s success is also down to its army of outstanding volunteers. Here a few reflect on some hard-to-forget moments and going beyond the call of duty from festivals past
A happy team
“As a volunteer its quite magical being in the castle in the days prior to the festival, when it starts as an empty space and green grass. You always think ‘this is never going to happen’ – but of course it always does! The tents go up, the producers arrive and set up – then the gates open and it’s a non-stop whirlwind as thousands of visitors arrive!”
“I have definitely had my fair share of highlights! Probably one of my oddest memories was from 2018, when a member of the public come over to ‘mission control’ looking really embarrassed. They said to me that they’d dropped their phone down the portaloo and were wondering how to get it back. So I very kindly went over to the portaloo with a litter picker stick with a grab hand on the end and fished the phone out for them! I can honestly say that was the strangest thing I’ve ever had to do in all my years as a festival volunteer.”
Here’s Phil, just one of LFF’s army of volunteers
“In the very early days, the information point was a wooden shed with a wire mesh window which we affectionately called the rabbit hutch. It created something of a wind tunnel and was often warmer to stand outside than in. We’ve come a long way since then and it shows how much the Festival has developed over the past 25 years.”
“Sometimes there are moments you’d rather forget! Like the time I was helping a stall holder unload his lorry in the castle, as he went to drive out his lorry stuck under the main entrance of the castle and all the volunteers and stall holders had to climb into the back to help get it unstuck from the castle. Thankfully we did!”
Don’t mess with max!
“Visitors to the festival like the fact that the volunteers are friendly, knowledgeable and are local to Ludlow or the surrounding area. The positive attitude of this dedicated team really enhances the experience for the visitors. In fact a number of guests have commented that they wish to visit Ludlow again because they have had such a great time and love the buildings and the overall beautiful surroundings of the town.”