October sees the launch of a new annual festival – The Buxton Adventure Festival. The weekend long event is organised by experienced outdoor and climbing events organisers Heason Events. The Buxton Festival already has a 3 year backing from the University of Derby Buxton. The university is hosting a double celebration to mark both the formal opening of their new 58 acre outdoor pursuits centre and the launch of the festival.
Kenton Cool on top of Everest. Courtesy BAF
On Friday 19th October - the evening before the festival starts - Kenton Cool, one of the world’s top mountaineers who has summited Everest ten times, will be the University’s guest of honour at a joint reception at Oaklands Manor. Dr Peter Dewhurst, Dean of the University of Derby Buxton, said: “All of the improvements to Oaklands Manor and its 58 acres of surrounding land will be unveiled as we officially open the centre. A great deal of work has been going on at our new outdoor pursuits centre over the summer to make sure it’s in fantastic shape for our Adventure, Countryside and Outdoor Management students returning to Buxton or starting their studies with us in September. We hope that many of our students and members of the Buxton community will join us on Friday 19th of October to celebrate.”
The festival programme of illustrated lectures followed by short films will be packed with speakers from the world of adventure, travel, photography and sport. Headline speakers include downhill mountain bike World Champion Danny Hart (interviewed by ITV Cycle Show presenter Anna Glowinski) and the Queen’s Olympic Opening Ceremony stuntdouble Gary Connery who this summer became the first person to jump from a helicopter without a parachute.
The weekend features some of Derbyshire’s finest adventurers and athletes including Derby born adventurer Squash Falcolner who climbed Everest and was the first British woman to paraglide from the top of Mont Blanc. There’ll be talks from Bamford’s internationally renowned travel photographer John Beatty and Belper writer Gordon Stainforth - who’ll be talking about his latest book ‘Fiva - An Adventure that Went Wrong’ chronicling he and his twin brother’s brush with death on a teenage climbing expedition. Other speakers include author of cult fell running book ‘Feet in the Clouds’ Richard Askwith (interviewed by adventure sports writer Nik Cook); Director of the Outdoors Swimming Society, Kate Rew; and award-winning cave-diver and film-maker Gavin Newman. And on Saturday and Sunday mornings they’ll be two special Young Adventurer sessions with stunt mountain biker Danny Butler and Castleton’s very own 17 year old Paralympic basketballer Maddie Thompson, fresh back from the 2012 Games, followed by an afternoon of activities.
When? Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 October 2012
Where? Pavilion Arts Centre, part of the Buxton Opera House
Tickets? From Buxton Opera House.
Adults: £10 for 1 session (or multi-buy savers - £18 for 2, £24 for 3, £28 for 4, £30 for 5) Full Time Students & Under 16s: £5 for 1 session (or multi-buy savers - £9 for 2, £12 for 3, £14 for 4, £15 for 5). Family saver ticket: (2 adults and 2 under 16s): £20
