The annual celebration nearly didn’t go ahead

A couple who stepped in to organise the popular Gladstonbury festival at the eleventh hour has hailed the celebration a great success.

The annual event, which takes place in Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, nearly didn’t go ahead this year after the organisers, Gladstone Park Consultative Committee, announced it wasn’t going to put it on.

But Al and Antonia Armstrong, who live with their young children Darcy, four, and Evan, two, in Dollis Hill Lane, returned home from a month’s travelling to discover the news, and decided to take the festival over for the community.

Al Armstrong said: “We have been in the area for 15 years and we love the park and we have always loved the festival. We wanted to continue that legacy.

“In this economic climate with all these cuts and we thought it was right that the community comes together to put it on themselves.”

The pair, who both work in events planning, convinced musicians to play for free and traders to donate their time and expertise to make the day a success.

Mr Armstrong said: “There are lots of different communities in our area we wanted to say that this is an open event where everyone can get involve in something which crosses these boundaries. I think that is massively important in this diverse community like Brent.

“Everyone had a fantastic time.

“The support was overwhelming and it just really shows that if you make the effort people come forward to make a great event like this happen.”

The couple, who organised Gladstonbury through their not for profit organisation Dollis Hill Ventures, are looking for people to help them put it on next year.

To volunteer visit www.dollishillventures.co.uk

Turn to page 10 for our Gladstonbury picture special.