Female Chair for Buxton Festival Fringe

Stephanie and John (sporting new socks!). Photo: Annie Osborne PRESS RELEASE : For immediate release November 21st 2008

Buxton Festival Fringe has voted in its first female chair.

Former Fringe vice chair, Stephanie Billen, has taken over from John Wilson, chair for the past four years, following the committee's Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday November 18.

In his final report as chair, John explained how he had been involved in the Fringe since 1997. 'Each year it has got better and I have become prouder of it'. He paid particular tribute to the spectacular Fringe30 show at the Opera House recently. 'It wasn't conceived as my swan song but it came to represent that to me... I was still smiling when I woke up the next morning'. After thanking the Fringe's entrants, supporters and sponsors, John concluded by applauding the Fringe's committee of volunteers: 'I feel lucky and privileged to have led such an illustrious and hard-working team. I hope I can slip back into the ranks and fulfil some suitably menial task when the need arises.'

Stephanie, a freelance journalist for The Observer and former press officer for the Fringe, thanked John for his support and guidance particularly over the last year when she had been vice chair. He had, she said, been 'a dynamic chair' who had presided over four years of change during which the Fringe website had become a vital means of communication to both entrants and audiences. Entrants were also now able to enter the Fringe online. Stephanie admitted that she was 'happy and relieved' that John was still going to be a member of the team and predicted an exciting time ahead as the Fringe prepared to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2009.

John was then presented with a set of history books as a gift from the committee together with a bottle of wine and a symbolic pair of orange socks - a nice joke for the man renowned for wearing sandals even in winter!

The Fringe committee also welcomed several new members. Anyone interested in becoming involved or becoming a Friend of the Fringe with ten per cent discounts on ticket prices is invited to check out the website on http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONTACT STEPHANIE BILLEN (01298 79351) or Send message to Press