July Bulletin

The sun shone, there was a downpour, but the band played on and the reopening of the Park's renovated bandstand in its smart new livery went with a swing.
Tina Challacombe, chair of the Friends, welcomed everyone on July 6 to 'this very special occasion - the reopening of our beautiful bandstand after its amazing restoration'.

Open for business: Tina Challacombe cuts the ribbon, with Andrew Mayfield (right) and the band behind Picture: The Royal Parks

The Friends have sponsored and organised the popular Sunday bandstand concerts since 2013. Tina said: 'When it became obvious that the bandstand needed restoration we were delighted to be able to contribute to this and I am sure you will agree, it has been magnificently done.'
The Friends have contributed £25,000 to the restoration.
Andrew Mayfield, Greenwich Park Archaeologist, spoke about the history of the bandstand before Tina cut the ribbon with a flourish and the Gordon Webber Soul Band launched into - what else but 'With a Little Help From My Friends'.

All singing and dancing: Members of the audience get into the groove
Picture: The Royal Parks

The Park held a colouring and drawing activity which went down a storm with the children - and a fair few adults. During the 15-minute cloudburst some of the audience crowded under the gazebos and trees. Others had brought brollies. And some ignored the rain altogether and just continued to dance and sing along.

Cloud burst: Rain fails to dampen the spirits of determined concert goers
Picture: The Royal Parks

At the bandstand over the next month...

July 20 KiX Jazz Orchestra: Eighteen-piece outfit playing a wide range of big band numbers from swing to modern fusion.

July 27 Tequila Brass: Seven local musicians performing music inspired by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

August 3 Alan Clarke Swing Quartet: Timeless classics from the Great American Songbook, Cole Porter, Gershwin and Irving Berlin.

August 10 Jolly Good Timers: Great standards from trad jazz and swing through to popular artists from the 40s to the 80s.

All smiles: Park staff in the drawing tent with families eager to have a go at colouring outlines of the bandstand Picture: The Royal Parks

From brass bands and opera singers to jazz musicians and rappers - Greenwich Park has welcomed them all. In the 1800s, local businesses owners organised concerts in the Park to attract visitors to Greenwich. Large crowds were soon enjoying regular performances by military bands. In 1891, a beautiful new bandstand opened to provide them with a formal venue. An estimated 5,000 people attended the first concert. Since then. this bandstand has hosted all manner of performances and community events - including the popular concerts held here each summer.

Foot tapping: The Gordon Webber Soul Band puled out all the stops at the debut concert Picture: Roger Stevens

As You (really will) Like It
The Royal Observatory Gardens
July 26 at 3pm and 7pm
July 27 at 3pm

All the Park's a stage... The Royal Observatory Garden will become a vibrant Forest of Arden for As You Like It later this month

Shakespeare for everyone - that's a family-friendly outdoor production of As You Like It coming to the Royal Observatory Garden later this month.
Follow Rosalind, Orlando, and a vibrant cast of characters in a Forest of Arden transformed into a colourful festival of music, cabaret, and revelry by the East London Shakespeare Festival. Bring a picnic, arrive early for pre-show craft workshops, and enjoy a joyful experience perfect for all ages.
To book and for more details click here .

If you'd like to help out - and see the show for free - the ELSF are appealing for volunteers to assist during arrival and departure of the audience and at the interval.You'll get to meet the cast and enjoy the show for free. Travel expenses will be covered if required. Please sign up here.

And to come ... history talks

Would you like to learn more about the events and people that have influenced the Greenwich Park we see today?
Members of the Friends' History Research Group have been researching a wide range of topics since the group was formed ten years ago. They would like to share some of their findings with a series of free talks which will be held in the Learning Centre in the Park later this year.
These will be ticketed events with a limited number of places. Details and information on how to book will be available soon, so watch this space.

Annual lecture - save the date

Our annual lecture is being given this year by Andrew Scattergood, CEO of The Royal Parks. Andrew's theme is 'A decade of transformation – 10 years as The Royal Parks CEO'. The lecture will take place on October 7 at 7.30 pm in Mycenae House, Westcombe Park. Tickets will go on sale soon on our website.

My, how you've grown: A rare glimpse of the new fawn in the Park's deer enclosure with its mother
Picture: Nicholas Butcher, FoGP Photography Group