EXPLOSIONS from almost 200 cannons, and £10,000 worth of fireworks provided an explosive finale to the biggest Blenheim Palace Battle Proms.
More than 8,500 people – many waving Union Jacks and tucking into extravagant picnics – packed the south lawns of the Unesco World Heritage Site in Woodstock on Saturday for the six-hour concert, which director Adam Slough described as the greatest spectacle of the summer.
The event celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Duke of Wellington’s victory at Waterloo, 75 years since the start of the Battle of Britain and 70 years since the end of World War Two.
It featured infantry and cavalry displays by Napoleonic re-enactors, a 1940s-style vocal group and an aerobatic display by a Spitfire.
The highlights came with performances of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Beethoven’s Battle Symphony – both punctuated with scores of cannons firing hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder.
The event culminated in a Last Night of the Proms-style sing-along to a host of patriotic classics including Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem.
“It was a resounding success,” said Mr Slough. “It was a real spectacle and our biggest yet.
“The audience were amazing – as they always are, and all loved it.
“It is a great year for anniversaries and we celebrated in style.
"People loved the Spitfire – which provided a wonderful display to the music of Elgar.”
Lisa Stanhope, from Weston-on-the-Green, was dressed as a camp cook with the French Artillery. She said: “People love this. We’ve all just come back from Waterloo but Blenheim is the best.
“People come from all over. It’s not just for the classical music but the whole thing – picnics, fireworks, cannons and horses – all in the open air.
“It’s a great event and we love it – and the location is the real star.”
Bob Birtwhistle, from Longcott, near Faringdon, was dressed as a British soldier from the Battle of Waterloo. He said: “It has been great to come here. It’s a great atmosphere. We were all commemorating Waterloo a couple of weeks ago.
“This is the local event and is great fun. As re-enactors, we add some colour to the evening – as well as musket and cannon fire.
"Everybody loves the explosion. That gunpowder is quite addictive.”
Caroline Hutchins, Emma White and Liz Fletcher, all from Abingdon, turned out for the night dressed as Second World War land girls.
Ms Fletcher said: “It’s been great. Everybody loves a picnic and Blenheim is a great place.”
French Artillery. L-R Roman Paillot, Nick Bellizia, Mick Smith, Lisa Stanhope - from Weston-on-the-Green.
The event coincided with Tom Jones’s headline set at Cornbury Festival, up the A44 at Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, and led to major congestion on the A44, with tailbacks from Yarnton.
‘Land girl’ Ms White said: “I was actually hoping Tom Jones might pop in on his way home, for a quick rendition of Land of Hope and Glory!”
Boom! Some of the almost-200 cannons used in the concert
Lisa Stanhope, from Weston-on-the-Green, was dressed as a camp cook with the French Artillery. She said: “People love this!
"We’ve all just come back from Waterloo but Blenheim is the best. People come from all over. It’s not just for the classical music but the whole thing – picnics, fireworks, cannons and horses – all in the open air.
“It’s a great event – and the location is the real star.”
Red coats: Sue Llewellyn, David Cohen, 14, and Bob Birtwhistle - from Longcott near Faringdon
Below: Flags adorn the palace lawns
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