Cornbury puts on a top class show (From Oxford Mail)

Cornbury puts on a top class show

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AS Oxfordshire’s biggest, and smartest, festival, Cornbury is used to seeing some famous names. But yesterday, it surpassed even its own reputation as a playground for the chic and well-heeled by welcoming its first Prime Minister.

David Cameron took time out from running the country by spending some family time among the fairground rides at the music festival, which attracted more than 12,000 people each day to its rolling site near Charlbury, over the weekend.

Mr Cameron, whose constituency home is just a few miles away in Deene, has been a regular visit to the event, hosted by Lord and Lady Rotherwick, but this was his first festival as premier.

Talking exclusively to the Oxford Mail, he said he had enjoyed his visit to the festival – which was headlined by Singer-songwriters David Gray and Jackson Browne, folk star Seth Lakeman and rockabilly idol Imelda May.

“It’s very nice,” he said, after a quick chat with festival director High Phillimore, who lives on the Cornbury estate.

“I was hoping to see the Blockheads, but they’re on a bit later, and I have to rush off. I would also have loved to see Jackson Browne because I was a big fan of his.”

He was also looking forward to sampling some of the food on offer – which ranged from a pig roast served by volunteers from Charlbury pre-school to authentic Jamaican curried goat, and handmade pasta prepared on site by Jamie Oliver’s team of chefs (though Jamie himself wasn’t on site).

“I haven’t decided yet what to have,” said Mr Cameron, but I’ll have a good look and get something to take home.”

Mr Cameron was among a number of celebrities spotted on the site over the weekend – including Jeremy Clarkson, Gillian McKeith, comedian Dom Joly, Linda Barker, and Lloyd Grossman – who performed a set with his band New Forbidden.

Mr Phillimore hailed the seventh Cornbury a huge success. “I’ve been really thrilled wit the line-up and the site has looked lovely. We’ve had a big new kids’ area this year too, which has been fantastic. Even the weather has been good to us, which is a nice change.

“We’ve had a good crowd, with a lot of people walking-up on each day, so I am feeling very positive. We might not make a profit, again, but we are getting very close. Maybe in year eight!”

He also paid tribute to his Cornbury organising team, saying “They’ve been on site for 10 days but the real planning has taken 11 months. I’m proud of what they’ve done.”

Referring to the Prime Minister’s visit, he said “David has been here before years and it’s nice that he still supports us. He’s a good local MP and obviously enjoys coming along to his local music festival. Plus its only a few miles from where he lives. The first time he came was to see Echo & the Bunnymen, so he’s obviously got good taste in music.”

Among the music-lovers enjoying yesterday’s sun was Pete Elliston, from Monmouth Road, South Oxford. He said: “It has been brilliant. It’s such a friendly festival and I’ll definitely be coming again. The highlights were Candi Staton and Squeeze, but the whole thing has been nice and relaxed.”

Jessica Doidge, from North Newington, near Banbury, was there with her daughter Ellie, three. She said: “It’s the first time I’ve been here but we’ve had a really good time. It’s great for children. It’s also the poshest festival I’ve been to – where else would you see Bentleys in the car park!”

Stella White, from Grimsbury, Banbury, was making use of the kids’ area with children Florence, four, and son Emmett, one. She said: “It’s brilliant! It’s the first festival I’ve ever been to, and it is wonderful. It’s all so relaxed. There’s no pressure and it’s fabulous for families.”