Latest news with #MeyrickPark
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BSO return this summer for two open-air concerts
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is set to grace Meyrick Park with two open-air concerts this August. The weekend, supported by BCP Council, includes 'Classical Extravaganza 2.0' and 'Symphonic Smash Hits: the 80s'. 'Classical Extravaganza 2.0', directed by Calleva Assistant Conductor Enyi Okpara, takes place on Friday, August 8. It showcases popular classical and film music, including pieces by John Williams, Elgar and Tchaikovsky. The next day, Saturday, August 9, the park will come alive with 'Symphonic Smash Hits: the 80s', sponsored by Lester Aldridge Solicitors. This high-energy event will feature West End singers, with Pete Harrison conducting hits by Madonna, Elton John and more. Attendees are encouraged to join the orchestra in dressing up in their favourite 80s-inspired outfits. READ: Special guests to star at festival celebrating nature, music and arts The gates at Meyrick Park will open at 6pm, with performances starting at 8pm. Guests are invited to bring their own picnics to enjoy on site. The evenings will end with a fireworks and pyrotechnics display. For more details and early bird tickets, visit Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's chief executive, Dougie Scarfe OBE, said: "Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's open-air concerts at Meyrick Park are always a huge highlight of our summer. "We're looking forward to performing some of the most enduring hits from film and classical …before celebrating iconic music from the '80s. So, dust off the shoulder pads, and we'll see you there." Tom Alder, managing partner at Lester Aldridge Solicitors, said: "We're proud to support Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and help bring live music to the heart of Bournemouth this summer: it promises to be a truly unforgettable evening."
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment community rugby pitch is torn up by driver performing handbrake turns - after travellers pitched up on fields
A lawless driver tore up a community rugby pitch by performing a series of handbrake turns at speed- after it was invaded by a band of travellers. The yob was recorded driving a blue hatchback across the turf in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday, causing thousands pounds worth of damage. The vehicle came within yards of two young men who were doing a workout on the field at the time. Several caravans belonging to travellers can been seen in the background of the video. The group reportedly removed large boulders that acted as barriers to gain access to Meyrick Park, which is home to Oakmedians Rugby Club. They were driving seven expensive-looking caravans across the rugby pitch before setting up camp for the night. Locals called the police who were able to move the travellers on within 24 hours using a Section 61 dispersal notice. But the rugby club has been left with a four-figure-sum to repair the pitch which is used for summer activities including children's clubs. The travellers also apparently felled a tree during their stay at the park, which also has a golf course, bowls club and is a favourite for young families. An Oakmedians spokesperson said: 'We are sadly faced with the harsh reality of thousands of pounds worth of damage to our beloved pitches at Meyrick Park after a recent encampment set up here. 'This damage occurred in less than 48 hours. This is by far the worst we have had to deal with over the years and now we as a club are solely responsible for funding and orchestrating the clear up. 'We are gutted beyond words.' Club members took to social media to voice their anger at the pitch being 'disrespected and vandalised'. Jo Keeling said: 'So sorry to hear about the damage at Meyrick Park. 'It's infuriating and deeply upsetting to see our rugby club disrespected and vandalised. 'The hard work and dedication of everyone involved with the club deserve much better than this. 'It's disheartening to think that in less than 48 hours, years of effort and thousands of pounds worth of value can be destroyed.' Others called on the police and council to do more to stop the vandalism. Chris Hawkins said: 'So, where are the police and the local council?' Dorset Police said they were investigating the pitch damage. It comes amid a number of cases of travellers taking over fields and car parks in recent months. Today it was revealed that a group have set up camp at a popular family park for the third time in just a few weeks, forcing planned community events to be cancelled. A convoy of caravans and other vehicles arrived at Swanshurst Park on the outskirts of Moseley and Billesley, Birmingham, on Wednesday, settling on the field near the play park. Local community organisation Friends of Swanshurst Park said members had notified the council with a view to initiating eviction proceedings. A 'Balsam bashing' event scheduled by the group for tomorrow has also been cancelled. Balsam bashing refers to the removal of the plant Himalyan Balsam by hand to protect native species. The group posted on Facebook: 'We are cancelling our Balsam bashing session this Saturday as the travellers are very close to the area we would be working. 'We will rearrange another date and post details as soon as it has been decided.' This is the third traveller incursion in the park since April with volunteers clearing up the mess left behind. A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said previously: 'Birmingham City Council is committed to actively protecting its land and will take steps to recover this land where unauthorised encampments encroach upon it. 'The council has useable transit sites and plots for use by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community - which is in line with Government policy - and details of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment carried out and updated in 2019 can be found on our website.' Video footage shared online showed the first caravans and cars arriving onto the park, filmed from the nearby children's playground. A man who saw the group arriving, Stu Johnson, said: 'I saw them arriving while I was on the bus earlier - going onto the pavement by the entrance to the car park, driving along the pavement then onto the grass once they've passed the trees. 'Needs to be more logs or railings I'm afraid.' Mary Hart added: 'There have been three lots of travellers this year on Swanshurst. 'Each time a different group. Last time there were two groups at the same time. The clean-up is mostly done by volunteers with help from the council.'
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Telegraph
Watch: Community rugby pitch destroyed after travellers set up camp
A community rugby pitch has been churned up by a driver performing a series of handbrake turns at speed. The unknown vandal was recorded driving a blue hatchback across the turf, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage by doing 'doughnuts' on Wednesday. The pitch in Meyrick Park, Dorset, is home to Oakmeadians Rugby Club and is used for summer activities including children's clubs. A large group of caravans belonging to travellers can be seen in the background of the video. The travellers reportedly removed large boulders which acted as barriers to gain access to the park in Bournemouth. An Oakmeadians spokesman said: 'We are sadly faced with the harsh reality of thousands of pounds worth of damage to our beloved pitches at Meyrick Park after a recent encampment set up here. 'This damage occurred in less than 48 hours. This is by far the worst we have had to deal with over the years and now we as a club are solely responsible for funding and orchestrating the clear up. 'We are gutted beyond words.' Members of the rugby club called the police who were able to move the travellers on within 24 hours using a Section 61 dispersal notice. The travellers also allegedly felled a tree during at the park, which also has a golf course, bowls club and is a favourite of young families. Club members took to social media to voice their anger at the pitch being 'disrespected and vandalised'. Jo Keeling said: 'So sorry to hear about the damage at Meyrick Park. It's infuriating and deeply upsetting to see our rugby club disrespected and vandalised. 'The hard work and dedication of everyone involved with the club deserve much better than this. It's disheartening to think that in less than 48 hours, years of effort and thousands of pounds worth of value can be destroyed.' Others called on the police and council to do more to stop the vandalism. Chris Hawkins said: 'So, where are the police and the local council?' The club foresees having to spend a four-figure sum to repair the damage to the pitch. A spokesman for Dorset Police said: 'Dorset Police was made aware of an unauthorised encampment and anti-social driving that caused minor damage at Meyrick Park in Bournemouth. 'Following consultation with the relevant local partners, an eviction notice was issued under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 requiring the group to leave the site. 'Officers from the neighbourhood policing team continued to monitor the situation to ensure the notice was complied with and there were no further reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. The group left Meyrick Park on Thursday 22 May, 2025.'
