ONE Weymouth man is pressing his way to success by holding a cider festival for two Dorset causes. David Ferris, 55, has organised a Cider Fest and Battle of the Bands in Wyke Regis next Saturday, October 11.
Morris dancers Festus Derrimen, from Upwey, will also be entertaining the crowds at the festival and offering lessons on the day.
Plenty of local musicians have got in on the act too and will be competing on the day in the Battle of the Dorset Ukulele Bands from 2pm to 4.30pm.
This will include performances from the Lyme Regis Luggers, Bridport’s The Bucky Don’ts, the Wimborne Ukuleleans, the Weymouth Ukuleleans and the Swanage Ladies.
Popular ukulele group the Mother Ukers, from Bournemouth, will also be playing at the festival at 4pm, and judging the battle of the bands.
There will be cider and local produce for sale, apple bobbing and children’s activities.
Mr Ferris said: “There’s so much going on. We even have a lecture on honey for people that are interested in beekeeping and making it.”
He has also been hard at work building a ‘scratter’, a bike-powered apple press, from scratch, and he hopes younger visitors will bring some apples and containers and get cycling for some cider-making fun.
Mr Ferris said he had the idea for the community event to benefit Wyke and Westham Rowing Club and a newly-established group of Weymouth ukulele players, called the New Ukers. He said: “We are hoping to raise £12,000 for a second hand Cornish gig through a number of events in the year, and this will be the first fundraiser so depending on how much we raise through different events we hope to get one by next year.”
Mr Ferris said: “It’s community producers and performers helping in a local event to promote and celebrate the local area, so everyone is pulling together and it would be great to see people who live and work in the area come down too.”
He thanked Weymouth business Wyke Stores, Café Rica for donating coffee machines and Dorset Transitions for providing additional scratters.
The festival runs from 10am to 7pm at St Edmunds Church on Lanehouse Rocks Road. Entrance to the event is £2 for adults, under-16s go free. For more information, contact Dave directly on davidjferris@hotmail.com
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