PATRICK Davies worked in the food industry for many years and has also lived in Droitwich for a long time.

When he retired from work a couple of years ago, he thought it was time he married his knowledge and expertise in food with his home town and decided to establish the Droitwich Spa Summer Festival.

And now in its third year, it has blossomed into one of the best attended food and entertainment festivals in the Midlands with about 18,000 visitors last year.

Patrick, who has worked for big food brands like Cadbury, Typhoo Tea and for a government organisation promoting British food throughout the world, said: “The festival was my mad idea in the first place. I have lived in Droitwich for many years and wanted to do something for the town.

“Droitwich has a number of links with the food industry. Firstly there is salt. Salt has been inextricably connected with food for centuries. It is a flavour enhancer and was used to preserve and protect food during the winter months.”

The natural brine at Droitwich is 10 times saltier than sea water and there is archaeological evidence that salt deposits in the town were used by people as far back as the Iron Age.

Patrick, who is a judge for the national Great Taste Awards and the Quality Food Awards, added that Droitwich is a market town surrounded by countryside where local producers are supplying excellent quality goods.

“We have some great producers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and we are trying to attract great producers to the festival. This year there will be 125 producers at the festival and they are all good local producers,” he said.

“I am trying to make Droitwich the Ludlow of the Midlands. The festival has a great atmosphere because it is in the streets of Droitwich. We have street entertainments, singers, music and jugglers for the kids.

“Last year we had people from Cornwall and Yorkshire visiting the festival and there was a guy from California, who makes sweet potato chips, visiting Britain. He wanted to go to Covent Garden and to visit our event. The word is getting out there.”

The Droitwich Food Festival starts on Friday June 19 and goes on until Saturday July 5 with a host of events which combine food, drink, music, theatre, a farmers’ market, the arts and finish with a big picnic in the park. It promises to be an interesting and fun event for everyone.

It will be opened by BBC Masterchef judge and food critic Charles Campion and food writer, food critic and chef Tom Parker Bowles, who will be signing his books.

“Charles and Tom will be chomping their way around the festival and there will be food demonstrations in Victoria Square.”

Beer writer consultant and broadcaster Pete Brown will be giving a master class in craft beers including eight from Worcestershire.

There will be a kids zone which includes a chocolate tree they can help to decorate and a smoothie bike where the smoothie blender is pedal powered. There will also be a kids cake competition where each entry should have a Droitwich theme.

Sharon Chance, business development manager for Quality Solicitors Parkinson Wright which supports the festival, said: “This year we have significantly more local restaurant support including events at a number of different fine establishments.

“There is a particular focus on eating local dishes in Droitwich with the introduction of ‘Come Dine in Droitwich’.

“No food festival is complete without a local pie competition and the festival closes on Sunday July 5th with a Big Picnic in the lido park which will raise money for local charity New Hope.”

This is a non-profit specialist provision working with families who have children with disabilities and complex health care needs. For more information visit http://www.newhopeworcester.co.uk/

For more information about the Droitwich Spa Summer Festival visit http://www.droitwichspafestival.co.uk/