Hundreds attend Plum Festival launch

By Gary Smee 02/08 Updated: 02/08 13:26

Buy photos » Pershore Plum Princess Alicia Mardle, eight, from Pinvin with her attendants Hannah Smith, aged seven, from Pershore and Eleanor Gash, aged nine, from Eckington along with Prunella Plum.

THE MONTH-long Pershore Plum Festival got off to a juicy start as hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the launch event.

The town centre was awash with purple plummy delights on Saturday (July 28) as a crowd of all ages were entertained by the Rev Elvis, aka Andy Kelso, the Pershore Plum Charmer, the festival's mascot Prunella Plum and plum princess, Alicia Mardle.

The fun got underway at 10am with an opening rendition from the Rev Elvis who then rocked throughout the rest of the day and it was also the official opening of Plum Alley with dozens of plummy goods and products on sale including sausages, pies, cheeses, hams, jams, chutnies, cakes and plenty of Plum Festival Merchandise including the limited edition festival mug.

The mug, which has been once again commissioned by Worcestershire based Bronte Porcelain, not only celebrates plums but the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics.

Just 200 have been produced and are a must have for people who bought the first edition mug last year.

Each mug is presented in an elegant gift box which includes an individual validation certificate.

After the fun of Saturday the Plum Festival continued at pace at Worcester Race Course on Tuesday evening (July 31) with the family race night featuring the famous Land O Plums Chase.

The crowd also dug out their best plummy coloured clothes as they took part in a best purple outfit competition.

For more information on events coming up at the Pershore Plum Festival and for details on how to buy a limited edition mug log onto the website at www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk.