Firstly thank you TLB for turning out in good numbers and supporting the show once again, thank you to Mike for trying to help with the generators, and to Pete for the guitar serenade late Saturday night, a moment that stayed with me for literally seconds Secondly an apology; to those that travelled without a ticket and didn't get in and to those that did but couldn't park up in display as originally planned. Thank you to Charlie for coming and assessing the situation ahead of anyone turning a wheel to try and make the display space. I'm sure many of you have seen the statement posted on Facebook regarding what happened, for those that haven't I've included it below;
Well done guys. I got there for 10am. And it was pretty busy then. A shame the line up did not happen. And it turned out a nice day so I think people will always turn up last min if the weather is on your side. I will be back next year. Great local show and hope you made some money for the air ambulance top job TH.
Mate. It was a great weekend. You should be particularly pleased with the turnout in the band tent. The best I have known it to be. I really feel foe you with the hay clear up. Jen and I did this for another festival but had the saving grace of being able to burn it on a bon fire. Wishing your hands re-animation and a speedy recovery!
despite being on my own in the arena I had great time - me versus the dune bugs - fully appreciate why as the middle was waterlogged. was really surprised at how many people were there - as you say it was probably the great weather. Either way, everyone looked like they were enjoying it and I have to say well done to the volunteers who answered every question with a smile and pulled out the occasional motor from the mud without argument.
It was an excellent show despite the issues. And the beer selection was outstanding Next year we'll be helping out with some of the clear-up and will make sure we pack a rake for the hay!
I thought this site was a lot colder than the old one so if you sort the heating for next year it would be appreciated other than that it was an excellent well organised show. Every Marshall, Assistant and Organiser I spoke to had a smile on their face and the beer and cider selection was excellent, which helped us all keep warm. Thanks Dave and pass my thanks on to everyone else.
The show was great hippy. Only concern was the entrance but that's the show ground you couldn't of done anything.
Answers to points made above: Field Size We are keeping this site as it totals 14 acres the old site was 9 acres, had we been able to use all of it we'd have got another 300 cars in, either way we will be restricting capacity to 3,000 people as that's in my opinion the safe limit for the space we have and the size of the show creates a certain kind of atmosphere that it would lose if we went on expanding and expanding forever. I do not want the show to change, my aim is to raise some money for Essex Air Ambulance, I'm not putting anything in my own pocket so I've no greed driven motive to allow the show to become a victim of its own success. Entrance Procedure Next year we will be turning the show around, day visitors will park on the muddy field (if ground good enough) - we will be hiring in temporary road panels to assist with this. We beleive a large chunk of that field would have held up a lot better if the heavy traders vehicles hadn't been the first across it to squeeze all the water out to the surface, get stuck and churn it up etc. Thus next year day visitors will be ushered straight into the carpark and will then walk to pay on the entrance to the show area. This will remove any possibility of traffic queuing onto the road while money is taken. We will be putting solid Herris fencing up along the display area, this will prevent queuing onto the road while someone stops to look at the cars paying no attention to the vehicles tailing back behind them back onto the main road. Show and Shine Lineup Turning the plan round we will be putting the show area to the left of the gate as you come in, this piece of ground was able to take everything we threw at it without really churning up at all. The Camping area was also fine. Our tactic will be to put the show and the camping on the most weatherproof parts of the site so we will always be able to have a show regardless of the weather, day visitors will be an added extra ground conditions permitting. Music Tent Turnout The Music tent will be in full view of the camping area. Tucking it round the corner so it didn't disturb the minoirty who wish to camp in total silence made it too much of a trek in the freezing cold, if you can see the thing you're aiming for its a better motivation to walk. Temperature Those of a religious persuasion may wish to put in a word for overnight temperatures, I've only got limited quantities of soul to sell off each year to get sunshine during the day, I'm delegating the other weather related tasks
Nice show TH and I'd like to add our compliments to the staff you had. As has been said before they were cheerful and helpful. Good bunch of people at a good show. Just make sure that all TLB'rs wear special hats all day so even I can find them.
or a tall TLB flag pole - took me two tours before I found everyone else by which time they had all gone elsewhere......................................or is it me?
