Tributes to remarkable festival founder Judith
One of West Sussex’s greatest and best-loved characters, Judith Buckland, founding chairman of the Arundel Festival and former High Sheriff, has died at the age of 92.
Judith had lived in Chichester for the past five years but before that lived in Lyminster, near Arundel, for 40 years and it was from there that she set up the Arundel Festival, initially to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Her husband, Major-general Ronnie Buckland, died, aged 87, in 2008.
Daughters Alexandra Anderson and Caroline Burn confirmed Judith’s funeral will be at 11am on Friday, April 14, at St Paul's Church in Chichester, and everyone will be welcome.
Initially Judith worked in the film industry after attending finishing school in London. Among the films she worked on was The Comedians starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Alec Guinness.
Her film days came to an end after meeting future husband Ronnie, whose work took the couple to Salisbury. There, Judith became involved in the Salisbury Festival before Ronnie left the Army and the family moved
to Lyminster.
Alexandra said: “In 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee the Duke of Norfolk wanted to do something to mark the occasion. He came up the idea of putting on a play in the grounds of Arundel Castle and somebody said to him ‘If you want somebody to organise something in the arts, then speak to Judith who has fairly recently moved to the area’.
“He got in contact with her. In that first year it was
just the one night, but they all thought it was fun and they all thought ‘let’s do it again’ next year. It was set up as a registered company with Mother as the chairman in 1980 and she continued in that role. She stepped down from 1999 to 2000 when she was High Sheriff and then returned for two years, finally stepping down in 2002.
“She was always someone who had a real interest in the arts, all the arts and not just music. It was plays and poetry and she wanted to make it as diverse as possible.”
Judith will also be remembered for her sense of humour and as a great raconteur. Caroline said: “You think of your parents as people just to drive you places when you are young, but when I was allowed to stay up for dinner parties, I recognised that my mother had a lot of really great stories and she told them in a fantastic way.”
Friend and Arundel Festival colleague Lucy Brett recalled how she met Judith nearly 40 years ago when she responded to an appeal for volunteers to help with publicity and marketing for the festival.
She said: “Before I knew it, I had the proofs of the upcoming festival brochure thrust into my hands and was told to ring all the local press for wall to wall press coverage.
"Judith was part of that formidable post war generation of women who made things happen against the odds. I recognised straight away that here was someone determined to present a pre-eminent arts festival in an around Arundel Castle in late August each year and someone who would stop at nothing to cajole, persuade and charm sponsors, volunteers, artists, and audiences to be part of what she always called the ‘Festival Family’.
“Judith brought them all to Arundel for ten days around the late August Bank Holiday – The Regents Park Open Air Theatre company in memorable Shakespeare productions at Arundel Castle; firstly in the Tilting Yard and then the American Ground; internationally known orchestras and soloists in St Nicholas Church, Arundel Cathedral and the Barons’ Hall; a world premiere of an opera; ABBA tribute bands, spectacular fireworks, jazz and the growing ‘fringe’ activities. Many of these are still with us today, included the Gallery Trail, Theatre Trail and a profusion of community events around the town.
“Thinking back to those heady days in the mid-80s when corporate giving and hospitality was at its height, Judith’s capacity for inventive and lucrative sponsorships was legendary.”