Shropshire Star

Festival organisers line up top speakers

A Shropshire festival specialising in free-from foods and products and those suffering with allergies has lined up a wide variety of speakers for the event.

Published

Frestival 2019 will take place in Shrewsbury on May 18 and organisers are aiming to provide information, advice and demonstrations on all aspects of a free-from lifestyle, from Vegan to vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free to reducing plastic in the home and reducing sugar in family life.

A number of speakers will also be carrying out workshops at the event when they are not at the podium including allergy testing and free-from sugar activities.

Ben Calder has been involved in the holistic health movement for more than 25 years and will be talking to people about allergies, how they develop, what you can do about them and how epigenetics plays a role.

Also taking to the lecture theatre on Frestival day will be Claire McDonnell Liu, founder and nutrition advisor at Leicestershire-based Leafie, who will talk on using food as medicine. Both Claire’s children suffered from chronic health conditions but improved after switching to a real-food lifestyle.

Robin Nugent, of Iron & Rose in Shrewsbury’s Market Hall, and speciality winemaker Thomas Holt, of Paso Primero, will be discussing vegan wine and the role of sulphur in wine during the day - and there will be plenty of free-from wine available to try at the Frestival bar, being run by Tom and Darren Tomkins, of Gindifferent.

Health coach Laura Butler will also be speaking on the day and carrying out workshops focusing on health and wellness and the role of sugar in modern lifestyles and an open talk on Food and Fibromyalgia will be chaired by Rhea Alton.

Organiser Ian Bebbington said: “We are delighted with the high calibre of speakers at our event.

“They will be talking about a wide range of topics from their own experiences with various conditions to how to incorporate free-from foods into your diet and to cope with allergies and conditions.”

Ben said he it was important to raise awareness of what is on offer for those living a free-from lifestyle.

“I think events such as Frestival are so important to raise raise awareness, connect service users to systems and products that can benefit their health and to celebrate the greatness of life and food.

“I am looking forward to sharing the stage with all of the speakers, and to meeting the visitors on the day.”

Ben will be carrying out allergy-testing on site following his lecture.

For more information about Frestival and the times of the lectures taking place on May 18 visit the website https://www.shropshirefrestival.co.uk/whats-on/

Early-bird tickets are now available on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/frestival-2019-tickets-56798636250