Bewdley Festival attracts ever larger audiences, year on year every October, but few of those rushing for tickets are aware of the debt owed to the committed group of volunteers from such a small town, who help run such a significant and prestigious festival.

The first festival in 1988 took place only eight months after an initial meeting to assess local support.

Having joined Bewdley Town Council, maths teacher Robert Barbour soon recognised there was a need within the community for such an event. Local organisations lent their support to the town council and for the inaugural year Mr Barbour became the festival chairman. His priorities were to involve the right people, to anticipate the legal problems which needed to be addressed and to get the festival safely launched. Twenty five years on, the festival is still run by volunteers with a standing committee who organise the programme, a separate festival society committee for supporters and members, and a limited company that ensures legal and financial accountability.

Each year the festival follows the pattern established in year one. There is a July launch for members, street entertainment in the town centre on the first Saturday and, thanks to the involvement of local people, big name entertainment for the town.

Mr Barbour’s support for Bewdley Festival, and particularly the classical concerts, has been constant over the years, but his career path has been very varied.

After a variety of teaching posts including at a college for the blind, a boarding school and high schools in Bewdley and Hagley, he became maths advisor for Worcestershire County Council. This latter appointment meant that his 12 years on the town council and four years with Wyre Forest District Council had to come to an end.

Currently, Mr Barbour is one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (Schools) and he has had a huge input into the development of National Strategies for the Teaching of Mathematics. He is still active in the local community, being involved with the Friends of Bewdley Museum and as chairman of the museum management committee. Today’s festival-goers owe him a huge vote of thanks.