AN “AMAZING” Haslemere Festival 2019 programme was unveiled by chairman Hamish Donaldson during a launch event at The Royal Senior School last Friday which also appealed for volunteers.

Some of the 50 plus ‘acts’ signed up are such a coup, they have already sold out. Notably, star cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played at Prince Harry’s wedding, performing on May 18 thanks to HHH Concerts.

The world premiere of a new opera, Beggar’s Opera, by Haslemere composer Clive Osgood, specially commissioned by Imagine That Productions, will be staged on May 25-26; Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson is back by popular demand on May 19 and Foreign Secretary and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt will give a political update on May 24.

The 2019 event offers a wide range of entertainments from music, talks and shows to Little Lumpy cycling sportive on May 19 and Haslemere Classic Car Show on May 26.