Desert Island Discs

LICHFIELD FESTIVAL FRIENDS MEET THE DEAN OF LICHFIELD.

On Wednesday April 9th the Right Rev. Jan McFarlane, Dean of Lichfield, was
interviewed by the Rev. Peter Holliday at a music and conversation event at The
Guildhall. It was on the lines of Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs”, and was organised by
Lichfield Festival Friends, who raise funds for Lichfield Festival.

During the conversation the Dean spoke of her strong local connections: she was born
and grew up in Stoke, and worked as a speech therapist in the area before training for
the ministry. She was ordained in Lichfield Cathedral and worked as curate in the
StaƯord area before moving to various posts in Ely and Norwich, eventually becoming
Bishop of Repton, and subsequently returning to Lichfield. She spoke of the strong
feelings that the ordination of women had roused at first – she had received death
threats! She chose as one of her pieces of music the theme to “The Vicar of Dibley” (a
setting of the 23rd Psalm) because the first female priests “owe everything to Dawn
French” who made them accessible.

Hubert Parry’s anthem “I was glad” was included as a reminder of the ceremony where
she was installed as Dean; but alongside religious music she chose Andy Williams’
“Moon River”, which she had listened to in her grandmother’s kitchen, and Nat King
Cole’s “Let’s face the music and dance”, which had helped her keep going through
treatment for cancer.

The conversation with the Dean took place after the Friends’ AGM, which was
particularly well-attended in consequence! LFF Chair Adrienne Swallow reported on
the 9 fund-raising events they had held since September, and which add to subscription
income to make LFF one of the biggest contributors to Lichfield Festival.

A “good news” story she was keen to talk about was the Festival’s “Music for Schools”
project which is currently providing instrumental music lessons for more than 100 local
schoolchildren: LFF members had generously supported it both last summer, before the
scheme started, and during the week March 18-25, when The Big Give charity had
promised match funding for up to £5000 of donations. The target was reached easily, so
with the promised match funding the music teaching is secure for another year, a
contribution to the welfare, skills and opportunities of local young people.

This year’s Summer Festival runs from 8th-20th July, and details of the programme are
now available on-line and in printed brochures