Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 44

life

FEATURE

Are local shows
becoming too
commercialised?
Have summer shows got too big
and move away from their village
and Island roots? We uncover the
headache beneath the sunhat
The summer shows have become a costly
business for the Isle of Wight public. Not
much change from a tenner just to get
into the show ground, a couple of quid
every time little Alfie wants to tackle the
bouncy castle, on top of the cost of feeding
the family once you’re inside the gate.
A letter in The County Press says the
County Show, notwithstanding the lack
of animals through the foot and mouth
restrictions, “has long since ceased to
be the window on rural life it once was”.
The implica tion is that the original point
of the show has been lost. That if tills
are ringing, hands are being rubbed.
But David Holmes, organiser of the Garlic
Festival says the public get a lot for their
money: “People come in, wander round
the stalls, mooch around the arena, hear
good bands on the stage – Mungo Jerry,

Wolverton Manor Fair

44

Chale Show

and Brotherhood of Man, for goodness
sake! Amazing stunt acts, comedy
and magic. I honestly believe that for
£7.50 that’s something of a bargain.”
Bob Pritchard, organiser of Chale Show,
is as confident the public got a good deal.
Adults pay £6 and children are free, and
for that they get good entertainment in the
central arena, food outlets many of which
are local – Calbourne Classic ice cream,
Oasis burgers and Renaldo Perpituini does
the pork roast. “He’s from Italy originally,”
Bob says, somewhat unnecessarily, “but
has lived on the island longer than I
have. If food retailers are over-charging
people, we will chuck them out.”
Chale, he claims, still has the atmosphere
of a village show. It is largely horticultural,
with 11,000 exhibits in the horticultural tent,
and two craft tents. The arena reflects this

Steam Rally

too: along with its spectacular motorcycle
displays, it has marching bands and some
local acts like magician David Randini.
There are also the ubiquitous stalls
selling cheap tools and clothes. Do these
have a place in a village show? “People
like to have them,” Bob asserts. “An
outdoor market has always been part
of a village show. Shopping, after all, is
a national pastime. We could sell more
stalls but we don’t want to get too big.”
Decisions about who to let in, how many
stalls, what sort of food outlets, all come
down to the financial headache involved
with staging such a show. David Holmes
took over the organisation of the Garlic
Festival from the Parish council two years
ago, and found it a steep learning curve.
“I knew nothing about how to put on an
event. I didn’t know you have to spend
£10,000 just on having police, fire and
ambulance on hand. I hadn’t thought
about the £3,000 for an entertainment
licence. Then there’s the rental of the
show ground which the council owns.”
Employees Liability Insurance is required
for the onsite workers – even unpaid
volunteers – for the days spent setting
things up. This eats up another £6,000.
The cost of staging the Garlic Festival
is £90,000 to £100,000, David says. “We
spent £10,000 on generators and £6,000
on portable loos. People complain about
loos at festivals, but you’ve got to have
them!” About 35 per cent of costs is
returned through stall holders’ rental.
“I’m amazed traders pay as much as
they do,” he says. “They’re committed
to spending their fee if it rains – which it
did – and the people don’t turn up. But
without them softening the blow we’d have
to charge more on the entrance fee.”
“We all rely on there being a big crowd
and if there isn’t, there is a real risk of

Island Life - www.isleofwight.net