Standon Calling to still go ahead

eFestivals has been told that Standon Calling will still go ahead despite the organiser being jailed for defrauding Tesco to finance the music festival for the last few years.

Alexander Trenchard, the eldest son of Hugh 3rd Viscount Trenchard, was sentenced to a 30-month custodial sentence today after pleading guilty to theft and fraud by false representation. All money taken was repaid to his former employer Tesco.

The 32-year-old heir to the family title joined Tesco in 2002 and rose to the position of corporate affairs manager and, with such a role, he had a company credit card so that he could charge Tesco for expenses incurred during the course of his work.

Trenchard, a married father of two young children, ran Standon Calling for ten years in the grounds of his family's country home, 16th-century Standon Lordship, and amounted massive debts staging the festival. By 2007, he was already using his £70,000 a year salary with Tesco to make up the shortfall and pay off debts linked to the festival. Trenchard began to use the expenses credit card supplied to him by Tesco as a way of obtaining cash to pay the festival bills.

The court heard that in 2009 ticket sales for Standon Calling had been poor and he ended up with debts of more than £300,000.

During a 21-month period the amount of cash he obtained was £196,000. But, with the clearing of debts and bills, the total loss to Tesco came in at £355,000, and all the money has since been paid back to Tesco by Trenchard's parents.

At his trial the court heard the son will have to repay his family the money when he is eventually freed from prison and can work again.

The festival has given eFestivals the following statement, "Standon Calling Festival is definitely going ahead as planned over the weekend of 11th -14th August, despite the recent news concerning festival founder Alex Trenchard".

Graham MacVoy, Festival Director, Standon Calling 2011 has issued the following statement:

"I know that Alex very much regrets his actions and feels great remorse for the distress he has caused, but the festival is about more than just one person. Standon Calling 2010 was a resounding success and we are building on that.

Our Early Bird tickets for 2011 sold out in half the time they did last year. Excitement is building and we are about to unveil our theme and make our first line-up announcement."

The Standon Calling team would like to thank all its supporters and those who've sent messages of support to the festival. The festival team are now looking forward to focussing on what they do best; ensuring the music, art and entertainment make Standon Calling 2011 our best event yet.

Keep your eyes peeled for this year's theme announcement due to be released on Monday 7th February.

Standon Calling will be held on the grounds of a 16th Century Hertfordshire manor house from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th August 2011. There are no acts confirmed yet for the event, and next year's theme has not yet been revealed.n adult weekend ticket with camping is priced at £120, a teen (13-17) ticket is priced at £100, children aged 12 and under can go free. Car parking tickets are priced at £5.

To buy tickets click here.

There are numerous stages and the odd unexpected stage appearing from nowhere. The festival boasts a number of bars, one of which is hewn out of an enormous oak tree, secret areas, interactive theatre, swimming pool (with underwater dance area), boutique camping (beach huts, yurts and tipis), kids area, and festival food.

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