Nostalgia at Abingdon Air & Country Show

It turned out to be a brilliant day out as usual. I really regret having to miss the three years I did but at least I made it back this year.

Guys

there have thankfully been very few Brick-bats relating to this years show,but in answer to those the Main Event Organiser,Mr Neil Porter,has asked me to cut ‘n’ paste his reply from the Feed-Back page to our web-site;-

Firstly, many thanks for all your comments – it is all useful information. To address some of the points raised:

Toilets – yes, we underestimated the number of toilets needed, as we didn’t expect quite as many people to turn up! Last year we got it right, this year we didn’t. Unfortunately toilets are one of our largest costs – they are around £50 per unit per day to hire – multiply that by the 25 units onsite… we simply couldn’t afford any more, as a non-commercial and volunteer-run show that gifts most of the profit to the Air Ambulance. The money we retain each year has to be spread across the board to make the show run. Having said that, it seems we may be in a position to hopefully remedy the toilet situation for 2010, and we will look into hiring the troughs mentioned too.
Traffic – a road accident in the vicinity of Abingdon didn’t help matters. The traffic queues outside the airfield could be helped a bit if everybody made sure they didn’t leave large gaps – it was apparent from aerial observation that the physical length of the queue could have been cut drastically if everyone had closed the gaps (thus freeing up the main roundabout under the A34 and the A34 slip road exits). Traffic queues are unfortunately one of the organisers’ worst nightmares as to be honest we cannot do anything about it – we will look at the situation to see if there is anything that can be done to help but is highly unlikely.
Delays on the airfield – access to the airfield is restricted to the southern gate off Barrow Road, which gives us the maximum length of hard surface within the airfield to try and get as many cars as possible off the public roads. This hard surface – the perimeter track – is only wide enough for 3 lanes plus a further lane for emergency access and any departing traffic. Use of the grass either side is not possible due to the poor condition of some of the land – and had it been wet, could have been very muddy/unuseable/dangerous. We can see people’s views on the ‘lack of paygate staff’. Our problem here is getting willing and competent volunteers to run this point – we only had 13 people available (not all available simultaneously due to breaks etc.). You can help to some extent by buying advance tickets, enabling you to utilise the advance ticket lane to get in quicker once on the airfield.
Advertising & Signage – a few people mentioned the lack of banner advertising for the show in the run up to the weekend; well the answer is unfortunately that the local council have banned banner advertising etc and any unauthorised banners – or ‘flyposting’ – could lead to the organisers being fined! We were, however, in the local newspapers and radio and on various websites including – of course – this one!

We hope you all enjoyed your day despite any inconveniences you suffered and will return to support us and your local Air Ambulance next year!

Neil Porter, event organiser

On behalf of Neil and the rest of the committee,thank you for reading this and I hope you are re-assured that we do everything possible to make your visit to this annual all-volunteer run CHARITY event as pleasant as we can

Colin

Plus, I am allowed to fly in, which is a bonus 😀

Does that mean I can get to photograph a yellow Piper Cub that won’t be surrounded by blue cones?:D Must come and say ‘Hello’ Andy!

Blimey – that’s a bit of a coup for this usually low key event! That’ll be a crowd puller – well done!

Not realy that low key – in a quiet but efficient manner
it has got bigger and better by the year, and is a very respectable event by any reckoning.

Horses for courses, and all that, but I would spend a day at Abingdon in preference to the RIAT, as I don’t require to be financially mugged, forced to walk 50 miles, shoved around and frisked by security Nazis, and get lost in a crowd of 100,000 people.

Plus, I am allowed to fly in, which is a bonus 😀

Cameras at the ready!

The static will also include an RAF C-17 Globemaster (the largest aircraft to fly into Abingdon for years!)

Blimey – that’s a bit of a coup for this usually low key event! That’ll be a crowd puller – well done!

I think you will find it is the Bournemouth Pembroke not Air Atlantique’s that hasn’t flown for a couple of years now

It is indeed the Bournemouth based G-BNPH/WV740 which has been a firm favourite at recent Abingdon Air & Country Shows and we look forward to her return in a couple of weeks
Colin
10th Abingdon Air & Country Show…3rd May 2009
(a wholly volunteer organised event in support of the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance)

www.abingdonfayre.com

I think you will find it is the Bournemouth Pembroke not Air Atlantique’s that hasn’t flown for a couple of years now