MARLBOROUGH FESTIVAL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 4

MARLBOROUGH FESTIVAL

Events Planned For March

Sunshine, hunting, fishing, and scenery are Marlborough attractions.

With these, a group which has formed itself into the Marlborough Festival Committee believes the province could become a “national playground.” It claims that there is unlimited industrial, tourist, and agricultural potential waiting to be developed. Impetus for the committee and the .festival planned for March came from Air Force men living in Woodbourne. Already the committee has planned as definite events a R.N.Z.A.F. charter parade through Blenheim, a variety concert, a “Miss Marlborough” contest, Air Force tennis, athletics, and swimming championships, swimming carnival, Highland dancing competitions, a formal ball, and a combined churches’ service of thanksgiving. Other activities being considered include an aerial display, armed services' displays, and safety days. A gymkhana is also being considered, sports bodies are being asked to arrange major events during the festival,, and a motor show has been suggested. The chairman of the festival committee (Flight Lieutenant G. B. Mead), writing to “The Press” with an outline of the programme, said: “Your newspaper is our morning newspaper, and because of that we in Marlborough are kept in close touch with Canterbury. However, unless we are flooded out or the Aramoana hits the terminal wharf again the reverse is not true. It is doubtful whether the average Cantabrian is really aware of his northern neighbour.”