A 1960’s folk icon lit up Willesden Green to lend her voice to a fundraising campaign.

Julie Felix, who once was a regular on television screens, bought her mix of activist and soulful melodies to a secret garden party hosted by the Brent Stop the War/Brent Palestine Solidarity on Sunday.

The 77-year-old peaceful protester said: “I was an activist and I know how important it is to keep the fires burning. It inspires me to know there are places where it is still happening and people are still engaged and raising money to make people aware of what’s going on in the world. There is a lot on the table at the moment to be aware of.”

She treated the crowd to Wings of Waste, a song she was commissioned to write for a documentary about one man flying a plane fuelled purely by plastic bags.

Following Ms Felix on the stage was Irish Egyptian stand-up comedian Zahra Barri and her subtly subversive take on modern life. With his own blend of comic patter, Ian Saville, the ‘Socialist Magician’ delivered a pleasantly bewildering act as well as acting as MC. The evening ended with the folk/pop duo Finisterre and their sing-a-long songs.

Martin Francis, chair of Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “Brent Stop the War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign work for peace and for justice for the Palestinian people and the annual fundraising Garden Party is essential to our effectiveness. “Better than expected weather, a great mixed group of local people, fantastic food and a powerful performance by folk icon Julie Felix - all in a lovely town garden, made this a particularly memorable event.”