Meadows Festival Turns 50!
Happy Anniversary Meadows Festival!
A little bit of history…
The festival started in the 1970s, run entirely by volunteers and community groups. It was set up as a free, inclusive alternative to commercial events and over the decades, it’s grown into a treasured part of Edinburgh’s cultural calendar
It’s Free to attend and entirely not-for-profit. Each year the festival is run by a small volunteer committee with a passion for community-building. The festival is known for its welcoming, grassroots atmosphere and for showcasing a huge variety of local talent. The festival is also a platform for small charities, artists, and creative projects.
Remembering where it all began…
Featuring 3 pieces of art by Richard Rooney from the 1978 festival
This April saw the passing of one of the founder members of the Meadows festival.
Bob Cormack, with his wife Margo, brother Bill plus other committee members & various local volunteers organised the first festival in 1975 with the hope of nurturing a sense of community in the area.
Working on a shoestring budget from jumble sales and coffee mornings it went from strength to strength.
Although very much the driving force behind the early years, Bob would be the first to tell you it was a collective effort and couldn’t have happened without the help of an army of volunteers, many of whom have now passed away.
Some of the longest serving members of the committee over the years were:
Sadie Rooney, Pam Reeves, Stan Reeves, Lucy Richardson, Helga Anderson, Bob Cairns, Betty & William Taylor.
Although very much the driving force behind the early years, Bob would be the first to tell you it was a collective effort and couldn’t have happened without the help of an army of volunteers, many of whom have now passed away.
