THE 60th annual Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival is underway.

On Saturday the week-long event was launched with a concert at Colne Municipal Hall featuring Pendle Youth Orchestra, with soloists Megan Rowlandson-King, Gavin Wiseman, Charis Deighton and Sarah Chew.

This year the festival organisers are also staging a competition, asking lyricists to pen new words to Sing For The King, a piece performed by the Orpheus choir for the Royal visit in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary.

Mr Greenwood was renowned as a leading light of the Colne Orpheus Glee Union, which won dozens of first prizes in music competions nationwide under his conductorship.

The choir performed for both King George V and King George VI when they visited Colne, 25 years apart.

Greenwood died on Good Friday 1946 and the following year, by popular acclaim, Colne's annual music festival, which had been around since the turn of the century, was dedicated to his memory.

Despite the continuing enthusiasm for the festival, which also promotes an annual dance event in June, fresh blood is needed for 2008.

Festival chairman Peter Jelley said: "The festival organisers aren't as young as they used to be and would welcome any potential helpers."

Greenwood's grand-daughter, Pat Stephenson, who now lives in Surrey, has donated a trophy for the winning entry, which will be performed at a concert to close the festival this Saturday at The Muni.

If you are interested in assisting the festival in future call Mr Jelley on 01282 774306 or secretary Muriel White on 01282 867909.

  • Click on the link below for our photo gallery from the event.