THE DUCHESS of Edinburgh was guest of honour at a celebratory dinner to mark 25 years of the Two Moors Festival.

Held at Powderham Castle, the event was also attended by BBC Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny who gave an after dinner speech describing the festival as ‘a glittering jewel in the crown of music making a vital cultural force…of national importance.’

Penny Adie, festival founder and Tamsin Waley-Cohen, artistic director since 2020, attended with 120 supporters along with the Duchess who is patron of the festival.

The event was sponsored by Arbuthnot Latham. There was a silent auction and the whole event raised over £16,000 to go towards this year’s festival held across both Exmoor and Dartmoor in October 2025.

Since 2001, the Two Moors Festival has evolved into one of the most distinctive classical music festivals in the UK.

It usually welcomes more than 4,000 people to its rural venues and nurtures young artists through its Young Musicians’ Competition.

An exciting line up is planned for October 2025.

This includes the best of chamber music and song, spanning six centuries of musical tradition, as well as talks and workshops.

Twenty-one events will be held in fifteen different venues on Exmoor from Wednesday October 1 until Sunday October 5 and on Dartmoor from Wednesday October 8 until Sunday October 12.

Andrew Welch, chairman of trustees, said: ‘It was lovely to have so many of our supporters with us to celebrate our 25th anniversary with our Patron HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.

‘Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the silent auction with its wide range of prizes, was a huge success.’

Rob Salisbury, Director at Arbuthnot Latham said: ’It was a real pleasure to support the 25th anniversary of the Two Moors Festival.

‘The evening reflected the strength of the region’s cultural life, and we were proud to play a part in celebrating such an important milestone.’