Sun shines down on students at Telford College festival - with video and pictures
Musical stars from across the country came to Telford for a first-of-its-kind event.
Telford College hosted T Fest, a one-day music festival, with grime prodigy Jay Silva as the headline act.
The event was pulled together by a group of students with help from staff at the college. Students and members of the public alike enjoyed a day in the sun, and organisers are now hoping to bring T Fest back as an annual event.
It was made possible by a “Telford Pride @ 50 Celebration” grant from Telford & Wrekin Council, forming part of the town’s 50th birthday commemorations, and also raised money for the Severn Hospice and the Georgia Williams Trust.
The organising committee for T Fest comprised of pupils Manny Singh Uppal, Daihak Singh, Leah Hilton, Jake Sadler, Sammy Pauling, Scotty Powell, Leyla Hamilton and Charlie Leivers, supported by staff members Hannah Smith, Daniel Blasczyk and Paul Keeling.
Manny said: “We wanted to do our bit to help mark the town’s 50th anniversary celebrations by staging a music festival organised by young people, for young people.
“It’s been a great project to work on, involving students from a range of courses, based at both the college’s Haybridge and King Street campuses. Hopefully we can turn this into an annual event.”
The event went ahead in blazing sunshine on the Haybridge site’s grounds on Saturday, with London-based star Jay Silva taking to the stage performing songs from his upcoming LP Tutti Fruity, after a succession of performances by Shropshire acts.
The organising committee decided on Jay Silva as a headline act after getting the thoughts of their peers.
Manny said: “We’re delighted to have secured Jay Silva as our headliner.
“We surveyed students to find out who they would like, and he was right at the top of the list.”
Some of the local talent to perform included Melissa Severn, Niamh Turley, Chris Thomas and Leo Golden Child.
Alongside the main stage there was a dance tent which included drum and bass and a live MC, and vendors sold their wares including the Mr Tees dessert stall. Some of the college’s own beauty students also ran a facepainting tent throughout the afternoon and evening.
Telford and Wrekin’s mayor Stephen Reynolds, who is also an ambassador for Severn Hospice, visited the college to meet the young organisers and open the festival.
