Member Article

Vela joins the fun of the Diamond Festival

Major new North-East housing group Vela has been named as the latest official sponsor of the Diamond Festival – Hartlepool’s summertime extravaganza to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

The five-day feast of retro fun for all the family runs from Friday 1st to Tuesday 5th June and is being arranged by Hartlepool Council in partnership with other town organisations.

People will be invited to step back in time and relive some of the classic entertainment from the decade the Queen came to the throne and some of the later years as well.

The Vela Group was formed in 2010 as a result of a partnership between social landlords Tristar Homes and Housing Hartlepool, which together have over 17,000 homes and 700 employees.

David Pickard, Group Director of Operations at Vela, said: “The Vela Group is delighted to be part of this exciting event in partnership with the Council and other key businesses.

“It’s a great opportunity for local people to come together and enjoy a fun-packed five days in the town.”

David Worthington, the Council’s Museums and Heritage Manager, added: “We are delighted to welcome the Vela Group as a sponsor of Hartlepool’s biggest event of the year.

“They join our main sponsor Niramax Total Waste Solutions and TFM Radio in supporting what will be a bumper celebration for all the family, with a terrific atmosphere, lots of nostalgia and some very unusual entertainment.”

Highlights of the Diamond Festival – much of which will take place in or around Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience – include:

* A Fifties children’s wonderland with nods to famous television characters like Pinky and Perky.

*Sunday Night at the Hartlepool Palladium – a tribute to the classic TV show, featuring Fifties-style acts but with a contemporary twist.

* Relive some Hartlepool dance magic at a re-creation of the town’s much-loved Queen’s Rink Dance Hall in the Borough Hall.

* A festival of classic Fifties films including Lady and the Tramp, Jailhouse Rock and Some Like It Hot.

* A Big Jubilee Lunch, recreating the spirit of the Silver Jubilee street parties.

* Remembering the punk mayhem of ’77 with tribute band The Sex Pistols Experience.

* Greasemania – a celebration of the classic high school film.

For tickets and further details visit www.whatshappeninghartlepool.com

If your company or organisation would like to get involved in the Diamond Festival, please contact Claire Munroe on 01429 523445.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Michelle Daurat .