00:00A nearly 50-year-old tradition has come to an end here at Leeds Castle.
00:06Heritage events, the organisers of the celebration, have decided to retire from live events,
00:13making this the last annual classical concert at this historic site.
00:20But of course, the event has saved the best until last, with a night filled with everything from jazz to
00:29grand orchestral music.
00:31The first time that we put a Spitfire in the air and played William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue underneath
00:38the Spitfire,
00:39I think we did that in about 2002 for the very first time,
00:41and the audience's reaction to that and seeing the Spitfire barrel roll away into the sunset,
00:47just, I'll always remember that moment, and it's something every year that the audience absolutely loves.
00:52For the bands and audiences here, every note is filled with a mix of happiness, sadness and nostalgia.
01:01They're always emotional, these concerts. They're such extraordinary events.
01:05Yes, tonight will be emotional, you know, it's the end of an era, but also they're always great concerts.
01:11So I'm determined not to let any sad emotions creep into what is a fabulous night.
01:17It's such a fun, good time, memorable.
01:22Yeah, it's an amazing event.
01:26We've been coming for 10 years.
01:28I'm upset over this because we come every year for years, and it's what we're going to do now once
01:35a year.
01:35I've never been here before, this was my first year.
01:38I've wanted to come for years and years and years, and this year I said, you know what, it's the
01:42last year I'm going to go,
01:44and I'm glad I did because you meet some wonderful people.
01:47Do you know, this is the first and obviously last concert I've ever been to, and I am so impressed
01:52so far.
01:53The atmosphere is electric, and what a day to be alive.
01:57As you can hear behind me, the crowds are celebrating as Leeds Castle has taken its final bow,
02:06bringing an end to a nearly 50-year-old tradition.
02:10But who knows what's in store for the future?
02:15Henry Luck for KMTV at Leeds Castle.
02:20Henry Luck for KMTV at Leeds Castle.
02:20Henry Luck for KMTV at Leeds Castle,
Comments