Big fireworks show cancelled
Thursday 5th November 2009, 11:54AM GMT.
Organisers of the West Mid Show have been forced to cancel a firework display due to take place in Shrewsbury on Saturday.
The event was designed to mark the close of the bi-centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
But officials at the West Mid Show Society today said they had experienced financial problems because of the recession and demands from suppliers means the event could not go ahead.
Gary Tudor, commercial director at the society, said: “It is with great regret and sadness we must announce the cancellation of the Darwin Bonfire and Firework Spectacular which was to take place this Saturday.
“We have looked at all possible options to continue but unfortunately, due to payments that must be made in an advance of the event, before the sale of tickets on the gate, we have been left with no option but to cancel.
“I hope that people find an alternative event to attend and enjoy their evening in a safe and organised manner.
“We apologise to anyone who had planned to attend the event and want to reassure everyone that all efforts were made to find a solution before this action was taken.”
Keith Winter, West Mid Agricultural Society treasurer, said: “This situation has come about both due to the cash flow of the society at the current time and the needs of the suppliers connected with the event.
“The suppliers have requested payment in advance of the event and these payments cannot be made without the income from the event itself.”
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are they sure the local town fun killers haven’t stepped in to complain before it happens?
we can’t have to much noise
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Hardly surprising….the organisers managed to lose close to £100k at this year’s West Mids Show, on one of the sunniest weekends of the year. They still owe suppliers tens of thousands of pounds and yet are still trying to trade. The ‘demands from suppliers’ are probably that they want to be paid up front…understandable given their track record. The West Mids Show is finished folks (at least at it’s current location), and if you went this year you’ll know why. It’s just a glorified trade show, where’s the fun in that? Very little of interest for the paying customer, the only people who enjoy themselves are the many VIP’s, members and dignitaries who can drink and eat in their private marquees from morning until late at night….for free. That’s where a lot of the losses came from….that and Jean Christophe Novelli, who cost around £8k for a cookery demonstration! If the organisers weren’t stuck in the 1950′s they would understand that what the people of the West Midlands want is modern entertainment, good food, decent stalls and exciting activities to go along with the ‘country’ side of the show. But their heads are in the sands, they have abused their position, wasted money and as a result have left a lot of people out of pocket. The county will now have even less events to enjoy ourselves at, and we didn’t have many to start with! Don’t blame the recession and suppliers, it’s pure incompetence.
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never mind, at least we wil still have £450.000 worth of concrete display to gasp & wow over, dont we!!!!!!!
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Jeff you are right!!!! thats what it is!!! Can anyone tell me if there are any other firework displays in Shropshire, i’m struggling to locate any?
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Try here
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/11/03/send-us-your-bonfire-night-pictures/
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Over spent on the surf board rack i guess!!!!
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Think the one at the wellington cricket ground is on 7th Nov it can be found on there website
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What a joke this is!
Is Shrewsbury completely incapable of supporting public events now? it seems to me that in the last 2 years, ever since the commission of the Theatre and the Darwin monument coincedentally the council have not had the cash to fund events for locals. I havn’t forgotten the £700,000 party they threw for the new combined council.
Funny how they can find funds for these grandiose projects which supposedly enhance shrewsbury and the councils image, but not for lowly social events, which enhance OUR lives.
This is at least 2 major public events now that have been cancelled in the last 6 months due to lack of funding. Does anyone at the Shropshire Star fancy doing some ‘actual’ journalism and investigating into what the defunct council actually wasted our money on?
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