The organisers and trustees of the Frome Festival are sad to announce the death of vice-president, Fred Rolfe.
Fred was a long standing supporter and trustee on the board of the Festival, taking on special responsibilities for office administration between 2008 and 2013.
In 2013, health issues led to her changing roles to co-ordinate the Festival Friends membership scheme, which she was able to do from home. She was also made a Life President of the Frome Festival by the Board of Trustees.
Fred’s work for the Festival was entirely voluntary, and she was known to subsidise events personally. Fred also co-ordinated the Festival Food Feast for six years, the biggest single event in the Festival programme, attracting around 3,000 visitors.
Fred took on the Festival Friends with the intention of raising the membership from 120 to 500. She organised special events throughout the year helping to raise awareness and funding of future Festivals.
She attended this year’s Festival Food Feast on 4th July and also visited the opera ‘Cosi fan Tutti’ at Cooper Hall on the opening night of the Festival on 3rd July. Despite failing health, Fred was able to enter her much loved garden in the Hidden Gardens trail, attracting over 50 personal visitors.
Fred’s enormous contribution to the Festival was acknowledged by Festival Chairman Bob Morris at a social event on 17th July attended by Festival volunteers. Fred was unable to attend the event, her health having declined. She died on 21st July, aged 73.
Martin Dimery, creative director of the Frome Festival said, “Fred was a great source of support to me in my first six years as Creative Director, giving her time and energy unsparingly to the cause. She continued to be heavily involved in Festival matters right up until her death.
“She had considerable talent, fortitude and determination. We shall miss her greatly, and pass on our condolences to her family.”
The funeral will take place on Thursday 13th August at the Mendip Crematorium.