As I often say, one of the great pleasures of living in this part of the country is that we have the best of both worlds. We are surrounded by beautiful open countryside and have easy access to London. We are also very fortunate to retain the distinct charm and character of our towns and villages, including a strong sense of community. I saw this on display again when I opened the Bushey Performing Arts Festival. The festival brought the community together to enjoy a wonderful day of music.

What began as the Acoustic Festival has transformed into a showcase for the full spectrum of performing arts, offering something for everyone. It was great to see more than 100 performers on eight stages at the beautiful setting of Mary Forsdyke Garden and Warren Lake. 

This year’s festival also saw the comeback of the Bushey Parade in conjunction with the festival along Bushey High Road. 

I enjoyed the fantastically eclectic mix of singers, musical theatre groups, poetry and performance, artwork, children's activities, and craft fair.

Festivals like this embody the spirit of Hertsmere: warm, vibrant, and community-driven. Seeing families, friends, and neighbours share an afternoon in such joyous company is always uplifting. As your MP, I’m proud to champion events that bring people together and celebrate local creativity. 

It has become one of the highlights of my diary and many residents I spoke to agree it is a must-attend annual community event in Bushey. I look forward to attending it again next year.

Credit must go to Raymond Coffer and the team who gave up so much of their valuable free time to organise the occasion.

Well done to everyone involved for making this year truly memorable.