It was a golden day for a couple who came to the Wymondham Music Festival programme launch in the Market Place last Saturday. For Margaret and Colin Willis, from Wymondham, the morning ended with a delivery of a gold ticket which will provide them both with entry to eight festival events.

It was a golden day for a couple who came to the Wymondham Music Festival programme launch in the Market Place last Saturday.

For Margaret and Colin Willis, from Wymondham, the morning ended with a delivery of a gold ticket which will provide them both with entry to eight festival events. And as winners of the free draw, their summer of music need not cost them a penny.

Mrs Willis said: 'We really like the festival and usually go to some of the concerts and recitals. The gold ticket will mean we can both go free to eight events, and it will encourage us to try something new this year.”

Music festival secretary Barbara Randall said: “The idea of the gold ticket was suggested by one of our festival patrons. It offers a discount of nearly 40pc on a range of events of all kinds, including classical, jazz and folk concerts and a band concert of African music. We hope it will encourage people to try something different.”

The programme was launched by weatherman Jim Bacon who lives locally and is enthusiastic about the festival and its wide range of events - nearly 90 are listed in this year's programme. Jazz band Red Beans 'n' Rice provided music throughout the morning, and their keynote umbrellas - a feature of New Orleans bands - were eagerly seized by members of the audience for some lively dancing before a large and appreciative crowd.

Festival chairman John Wood said: “Everybody enjoyed the morning's entertainment and we have got our 2008 programme off to a flying start.”