He was one of the best known faces on television in the West Country as a presenter on HTV (now ITV West Country) for forty years. He has reported from the Ethiopian famine, the Oscars and Star City in Moscow, where he sat in Yuri Gargarin’s desk chair – the first human to journey into outer space.

And now, he’s heading to Peasedown St John!

Richard Wyatt, who hit the national headlines in 1976 when he was famously hit by a low flying aeroplane on camera at Weston airfield, will be the special guest at the village’s Party in the Park Community Festival on 10th June.

Richard, who lives in Bath, said: “I’m looking forward to coming along to Peasedown’s big summer event in June. I’ve heard great things about the success of the festival, so wanted to come along and check it out for myself.”

After leaving ITV ten years ago, Richard moved over to the BBC, where he presented the BBC Radio Bristol Breakfast Show live every morning for two years. Not liking the thought of retirement, Richard then went on to launch the Bath Newseum – the city’s first online newspaper dedicated to history and heritage.

“I don’t like that word ‘retire’,” Richard said. “I don’t like the sound of it, I think it is a dreadful word and it has all sorts of negative connotations – like you just sit around all day. With the Bath Newseum, I have never been so busy, I think it is very

important to keep busy, to have a purpose.”

Nathan Hartley, Chairman of the Peasedown Party in the Park Community Festival, said: “We’re extremely pleased that Richard has accepted our invitation to

attend this year’s festival.

“He will have the important role on the day of announcing the winner of this year’s Sara Holley Community Award, which is now in its seventh year.

“Richard has been one of our region’s most recognisable faces for over forty years. I

remember going to visit my nan after school each day as a kid and we would always watch Richard on the HTV news together at 6 p.m. He has contributed so much to local news and media for such a long time, that we are honoured to have him with us in Peasedown St John.”

Party in the Park officially starts at 12 noon on Saturday, 10th June on Beacon Field – with festivities running until 7 p.m., it includes the Red Post Beer Tent, Riverford

Organic Foods, Maxi Smart’s 70ft inflatable slide, hot food, the Party in the Park Push Kart Race, and Official Event Partners the Lions Club in attendance.

Plans include seven hours of live music and entertainment with performances from The Rosa Gray Band, Call the Shots and Rubix Grove.

The event also features the ‘Party in the Park Grant Giveaway’, the Sara Holley Community Award, and Somer Valley FM broadcasting live with one of its most popular presenters hosting the event. For more details follow the event on Twitter: @peasedown_party, visit: www.peasedown partyinthepark.org.uk, or go to the event’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com