LOCAL Olympic torchbearers will be part of the opening ceremony launching this weekend’s Droitwich Spa Salt Fest.

The torchbearers, Sammy Spencer, Trevor Griffiths (who ran on behalf of his son Jack), Dawn Baylis and Pam Jones – hopefully with their torches – will join Councillor Richard Morris, Wychavon District Council chairman, Councillor Anne Taft, Droitwich Spa mayor, and Peter Luff MP for the opening speeches on Saturday at 11am in Victoria Square.

This will be followed by a parade led by Droitwich Air Cadets band.

The torchbearers will then accompany Peter Luff for a short journey in a bell boat along the canal in Vines Park, and the MP will also make a presentation to a boating team from the Hop Pole, who recently travelled the full length of the Mid-Worcestershire Canal Ring by bell boat to raise funds for Help for Heroes.

Janet Yates, Wychavon’s Droitwich Spa Area Partnership manager, said: “The Olympics have been such a fantastic event this summer so we thought it would be a fitting to include local torchbearers in this year’s Salt Fest.

A big feature this year is music, and music lovers are in for a treat with a full programme of live music.

On Saturday the programme kicks off at 11am with the Spa Tones, Droitwich Spa’s Community Choir.

They will be followed by a youth music showcase in Vines Park featuring the W Factor winners, and local bands Pandemonium and The Observers are amongst the line up too. 

Music on offer in the town centre includes Clare Challenor, singing favourite songs from the 1940s, and Alvechurch band Blemish. 

In the evening there is live music in Vines Park along with a real ale bar.

The programme starts at 7pm with Woodfalls Brass Band from Wiltshire, followed by soloist Dale Perry. The headline act for the evening is Acer, a five piece rhythm and blues cover band.

Wychavon Festival of Brass takes place on Sunday, which attracts bands from across the country. In Vines Park there will be an afternoon of blues and jazz music featuring Worcester’s Poor Bob Jones and Stompin on Spiders, the Medi Simpson Trio a blue grass/gypsy jazz band and special guest artists Sarah Warren and Nick Lyndon from the Sarah Warren rock and blues Band.  Local band Blues Monday Jazz Quartet will also be performing.

This talented band of local youngsters has performed at Upton Jazz Festival for the last two years. The afternoon finishes with a jamming session.