Woolpit Festival's former chairman and director David Cordon is remembered as event begins

The date for a service celebrating the life of a former chairman and director of the Woolpit Festival has been announced, on the day this year’s event begins with two plays he was set to direct.

David Cordon, who died on September 3 at the age of 76, was instrumental in making the popular Suffolk arts festival what it is today.

Having taken over the ‘Woolpit Music Week’ in 1988, Mr Cordon established such things as the event’s name change, the formation of its supporters group, fundraising campaigns, a dress code and the festival’s logo.

Festival director Nick Foster said at this year’s launch that the event would always be indebted to him for his 16 years in making the festival the best it could be.

He said: “In that time he used his contacts to bring some illustrious names to Woolpit. An impressive array of talent to be hosted in what was then a small Suffolk Village.

“David had a commanding presence, an impressively professional approach to everything he did - his garden has always been a stunning hit of the village open gardens - and through his talented direction of many plays and his effective stewardship of the festival.

“He brought a huge amount of pleasure to our village. He will be terribly missed.”

Mr Cordon, who was awarded an MBE in the 2004 Queen’s New Year honours list for services to the community in Woolpit, was also strongly committed to the Woolpit Drama Club, where he directed a number of plays.

The festival opens tonight with two plays from Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads series, A Lady of Letters and The Hand of God, which Mr Cordon was directing.

But now Stanley Bates, Mr Cordon’s partner, and Michael Elles will present them ‘as David would have wanted.’

Mr Bates said: “I don’t think that David realised his contribution to the village, he was very special and much loved by so many.

“As well as the festival he also organised a Christmas charity concert at Wyken Hall, home of Sir Kenneth and Lady Carlisle, with many known names from the Arts.”

David Cordon’s service will be at Woolpit’s St Mary’s Church, at 2pm on October 14.