Join the Friends’ Summer Party in the Abbey Ruins

Abbey Ruins © Chris Forsey

ALL are invited to join a free summer party celebration in the newly reopened Abbey Ruins on Sunday 2nd September 2018, from 2-5pm.

The afternoon event will feature free live music, family activities and refreshments and will be officially opened at 2pm by the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Debs Edwards. Highlights of the afternoon include entertainment from the Pangbourne Silver Band, Shinfield Shambles Morris Group and the Rock Choir. There will be a history trail for kids, guided walks of the Abbey Ruins and a guest appearance from Reading Between the Lines Theatre Group. The event is organised by the three local Friends’ Groups - the Friends of Reading Abbey (FORA), the Friends of Reading Museum (FoRM) and the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens (FCCG). This year’s garden party is being held in the dormitory of the reopened Abbey Ruins to celebrate the successful completion, by Reading Council, of the £3.15 million, three year Reading Abbey Revealed conservation project.

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Notes

The media are invited to attend the event. For more information contact John Painter, Friends' Garden Party Organising Committee 2018, on 01189267893. The event has been supported by Reading Council’s parks team and museum service, and by Reading BID. Afternoon teas at the event will be on sale fro the Ways & Means Trust www.waysandmeans.org.uk

Friends’ Groups

The three Reading Friends’ Groups – the Friends of Reading Abbey (FORA), the Friends of Reading Museum (FoRM) and the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens (FCCG) – combine regularly to hold a summer party that is free at entry, for the enjoyment of residents, family and friends; and to promote awareness of the three Friends’ organisations, and Reading Abbey, Reading Museums, and Caversham Court Gardens, to the wider community of the Borough of Reading. Visit the Friends' website at: www.readingabbey.org.uk www.readingmuseum.org.uk/explore/get-involved/friends-reading-museum http://home.fccg.org.uk

Reading Abbey Revealed

The Abbey Quarter in central Reading brings together nationally important heritage within the former grounds of Reading Abbey, once one of Europe’s largest royal monasteries. The conservation of the Grade I listed, scheduled Abbey Ruins and Abbey Gateway are central to Reading Council’s vision to transform the Abbey Quarter into a unique historical destination. Reading Abbey Revealed is a major project, made possible through £1.77 million funding support thanks to National Lottery players and the Heritage Lottery Fund and match funding of £1.38million from Reading Borough Council. The abbey’s re-opening on 16 June 2018, after almost 10 years closure, was a focal point of this year’s Water Fest, Reading’s annual free celebration of the town’s waterways. People can find out more about the project by visiting the Abbey Quarter’s website www.readingabbeyquarter.org.uk Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ReadingAbbeyQuarter or by following them on twitter @RdgAbbey