Latest news with #Wychavon
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Rik Mayall Comedy Festival boosts economy
The town that hosted the first Rik Mayall Comedy Festival has seen an economic boost with "best-ever" takings for businesses, a councillor has venues hosted 200 events in Droitwich, where the Young Ones star grew up – one of the most familiar faces on television in the 1980s and 1990s - but organisers said even the businesses that weren't hosting events have seen a record Morris, leader of Wychavon District Council, said the festival, which centred on Norbury Theatre where the performer first trod the boards, exceeded all expectations."It's been such a magnificent week," Morris said. "There's been such a buzz, such a great atmosphere, keeping Rik's memory alive. Antiques and pubs "It's 11 years ago to the day since he passed and as Greg Davies said, not enough was made of such an icon of comedy and we wanted to do that in Droitwich."Davies, one of the comedians who took part, had said Mayall "defined decades of comedy" and had not been celebrated told the BBC: "I think that him and his peers changed comedy totally. It moved it into an entirely different gear, a different arena, and I remember loving the fact that my parents didn't get it." Morris said he hoped the festival would become an annual event, adding: "Certainly, that's where we will be focusing on what have we learnt."Morris said there had been a big impact not only on Mayall's legacy, but also on the have not yet been compiled but the effect had been seen anecdotally, he said, adding: "Antique shops told me they had four times the takings they normally would, their best-ever takings."One of the pubs has said it's been their best-ever takings since they've been in operation."It's anecdotal and we've got to verify that, but if that's the feeling they've got, it's got to have had a really good effect." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Celebrations for Droitwich Spa Lido's 90th birthday revealed
A summer of water-centred celebration is being lined up to mark 90 years since the opening of a much-loved Spa Lido will host a series of events running from June to August to celebrate its opening in a poolside party and swimming lessons are part of the itinerary of events commemorating "a momentous milestone and a story of survival throughout nine decades", Suzi Wood, chair of Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido, said."We're looking forward to a spectacular summer and hope for a good turnout of revellers to join in with our celebrations." Events commence on 11 June, where the curtain-raiser will be switched on with an evening of music, followed by a poolside party with a barbecue on 14 District Council and the Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido group have put a book together, containing memories of the pool, with pictures and stories gathered from over the years, which will be launched on 19 history over nine decades has included a grand opening by a film star Ralph Lynn, closures during World War Two - and then the pool shut in 1999 before restoration was Dan Birch said: "It's an opportunity to reflect on how much the Lido means to the people of the town while also looking to the future with confidence." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa Lido summer season starts as pool marks 90th year
A restored art deco lido built in 1935 has opened for its summer season as it marks it 90th pool was closed for a deep clean and heating before its reopening on Saturday for the official start of the summer Spa Lido manager Seb Parker said the pool took saltwater from a well in the spa town and had water features including mushrooms, canons and pineapple said brine pumped into the pool directly from the well was "100% stronger" than sea water, adding: "We put enough in the pool, not so it's going to make you float, but you'll taste it when you're in there." The water gets heated during the summer and is currently up to 20C (68F), but in the winter, when people visit for cold swimming, it can go down to 3C (37F)."We're open all year round. We're actually really popular in the winter – wild swimming and cold water swimming is a big thing now," he said in good weather visiting the lido was "just like going to the seaside", adding: "You don't realise you're in the middle of a park, in the middle of a town."Its history over nine decades has included a grand opening by a film star, closures during World War Two - and then the pool shut in 1999 before restoration was planned, he the buildings in the restored pool are the same as they were before, he District Council and the Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido group have put a book together, containing memories of the pool, with pictures and stories gathered from over the years."Everyone can remember growing up here," he said. "It was a thing you did in the summer, like 'what shall we do today?', 'oh, we'll go to the lido'."You'd just come down with your mates, leave your bikes outside, go swimming, pop out for some chips and then come back in again for the afternoon." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
