Sir Elton John

2011 was another action-packed year across Times Territory. Here, the Welwyn Hatfield Times looks back at some of the highlights of July.

The shipping container which housed Phil Knight for two weeks

* MORE than 60,000 rock fans descended upon Knebworth House at the beginning of July for the 2011 Sonisphere Festival.

Revellers enjoyed a momentous opening evening when thrash metal’s so-called “Big 4” – Anthrax, Megadeath, Slayer and Metallica – all took to the stage on Friday night.

Saturday saw Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro headline, while Iowa metal heroes Slipknot closed the festival on the Sunday with their first UK appearance since the death of their bass player Paul Gray.

The band’s performance was preceded at 2pm by a two-minute silence across the festival grounds, in tribute to one of the group’s founding members.

Tom Lewis turns professional at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club - September 16 2011

Comedian Bill Bailey’s headlining slot on the Saturn stage on Sunday was the world’s largest open-air stand-up gig, while another record was set when an estimated one million people watched Sonisphere’s live webcast, including 500,000 viewing Slipknot’s performance.

* Elton John wowed the crowds at the first Magic Summer Live concert at Hatfield House on a soggy July evening.

Despite heavy showers and a series of organisational problems, the Rocket Man nevertheless turned in a hit-laden set that sent most of the 20,000 soaked fans home happy.

Codicote Village Day

Other acts to take to the stage on the day included Wonderland, The Overtones, The Pierces, Rumer and The Lighthouse Family.

But many visitors were left angry at three hour-long queues for the car park, poor sound quality and a ban on food and drink being taken into the venue which led to long waits at food stalls.

Organisers Full Circle Live later apologised to concert-goers for the problems.

* July also saw a Brookmans Park music teacher embark on an extraordinary challenge to raise awareness of the evils of human trafficking.

Phil Knight, who teaches drums once a week to students at Chancellor’s School, spent two weeks locked inside an iron shipping container outside Euston station in north London, in support of the Helen Bamber Foundation.

With nothing but a chemical toilet, a journal, basic food and water and a pair of trusty drumsticks, Phil, 27, lived for 14 days inside the eight foot by 10 foot box as oblivious commuters passed by.

He was released on August 8, and greeted by a huge crowd, a hug from wife Charlie – and a pint of beer and a Cornish pasty.

* WGC amateur golfer Tom Lewis became an overnight sensation at the 140th Open Championships, when he stormed to the top of the leaderboard after the first round.

The 21-year-old ended up taking the Silver Medal as the top amateur at Royal St George’s in Kent – but it was only the start of what turned out to be a fantastic year for the former Monk’s Walk School student.

Tom concluded his amateur career by winning the Walker Cup with Great Britain and Ireland in September, before winning the Portugal Masters in only his third outing as a professional.

* Devoted Jackie Young attended her final sports day at the school where all of her children attended – 27 years after seeing the first.

Jackie, 54, was at Swallow Dell Primary School in Blackthorn Road, WGC, to see her youngest daughter Kelly take part in her final sports day before leaving in the summer.

The mum-of-eight had not missed the event since she first saw her eldest son Gary racing back in 1984 – the year Carl Lewis won four gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics, and Sir Steven Redgrave won his first.

* It was a case of A Nightmare on “Elms” Street at this year’s Codicote Village Day, as a pack of zombies, vampires and ghouls invaded the annual parade.

Residents from The Elms, in Codicote, donned the gruesome get-up as they took part in the traditional float competition, attended by 80s pop star and villager Kim Wilde.

But their undead apparel proved a hit with visitors, as they took home the award for best costumes.

Come back later today for more in our review of the year.