Melbourn played host to a celebration of literature, drama, music and all creative arts at the third annual Bloomsday festival last week in support of charity WaterAid.

Royston Crow: The Boniface Consort entertain in Melbourn's United Reformed Church. Picture: Courtesy of Hugh PollockThe Boniface Consort entertain in Melbourn's United Reformed Church. Picture: Courtesy of Hugh Pollock (Image: Clive Porter)

The festival, which honours James Joyce’s classic novel Ulysses, brought together Melbourn community activists and volunteers with others from Meldreth, Therfield, Shepreth, Orwell, Barley, Royston, and Cambridge – and the festival lecturer, Dr Jeremy Noel-Tod, came from the University of East Anglia.

Bloomsday co-ordinator Hugh Pollock said: “The Melbourn Bloomsday Festival has brought together the Melbourn community and has raised publicity and funds for WaterAid.

“Apart from the education and enjoyment it brings to Melbourn each June, two activities have endured all year round – the Melbourn Short Story Reading Group and the Melbourn Play Reading Group.

“We now hope yet another all-year-round activity will now commence. The creation of an art exhibition in Melbourn Community Hub – an ideal space for all creative people – will hopefully be the first of many such exhibitions to be mounted in the Community Hub.

“Congratulations and thanks are due to all contributors and participants.”

The event included Meldreth’s Lesley Farbridge showcasing her glass jewellery, Shepreth hydrologist Tim Baker demonstrating the technical side of water security, Barley’s Belinda Hickman knitting, curator Jenny Oxley introducing exhibits from Royston & District museum, Tamsin Dobb from Melbourn Village College readin some of her favourite poetry, and Sue Luckett of the Bygrave Handbell Ringers doing her thing.

To find out more see facebook.com/MelbournBloomsdayFestival.