Wickham Festival 24: Clean up after 'brilliant' weekend

The Wickham Festival returned to Wickham in Hampshire this weekend, running from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4.

This year, the festival site was redesigned, with day parking on the field formerly used for the main arena and the two main stages on a field opposite McCarthy's farm shop, formerly used for camping.

The site is smaller than in previous years, with a capacity for only 5,000 people compared to 7,000 in previous years.

Clean up underway (Image: Chris Atkinson)

Work has been carried out to clean up the field following the festivities, with tents and stages being taken down, and attendees and some traders heading home.

Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn, 68, said he is overjoyed with how the festival has gone this year.

He said: “It has been brilliant. The good weather has helped. We had a really wet and muddy year last year, but this year was fantastic – any festival is better in the sunshine!

“But this year really did go well. This is the first year we have been on this field, we moved site because of the mud really, and it’s worked fantastically.

"The audience has loved the field, and there haven’t been any problems. I would love to say something negative because it makes a better headline, but I can’t!

“I’m really lucky, especially since I have such a great crew, but everyone has enjoyed it and it’s been a blast.”

Many festival goers praised the flatter grass field, which stood up to the crowds over the weekend. 

Mr Chegwyn added: “I had an email from a woman saying ‘I’ve fallen in love with Wickham again’, and it really summed it up.

"After these wet years, some of our audience didn’t come back due to the rain and mud so we had to almost restart the festival, and it’s gone better than we could have expected.

“We had great music all weekend, and the artists love it because the audiences are so receptive. Wickham village is also very happy.

Part of the empty festival site (Image: Chris Atkinson)

“The serious side people forget is the money that festivals bring into the area – such as pubs, hotels and mini-cab companies. We always use local firms when we can, but the money also goes into Wickham, which is worthwhile.”

The festival saw top acts such as Suzi Quatro, the Levellers, Curtis Stigers and Tony Christie perform across two main stages, plus many others on smaller stages, as well as a silent disco and scores of stalls.  

Mr Chegwyn also said that work is well underway on planning next year’s festival.