I note with interest the comments made by Xenth in respect of the St Martin’s Bonfire. I am very sorry you were not satisfied with your visit to the event. I am the secretary to the organising committee and feel I should offer the Committee’s side of the story. The membership of the Committee was bitterly disappointed that due to very bad weather the event organised for 8th November had to be postponed mainly because of health and safety reasons – high winds and rain. A bit of background here - there are a lot of processes behind the scenes that have to be completed before an event such as this can go ahead. Permits have to be obtained and that includes completing an event plan (a document containing well over 100 pages of evidence) which covers all aspects of health and safety issues, insurance and backup plans to satisfy organisations such as all the emergency services -police, fire service, ambulance as well as public health and other representatives on the Bailiff’s Panel. Once permission is obtained the main work can begin. The Committee is a small body of people who work voluntarily giving up their own free time and sometimes using up holiday entitlement from work. At 6.30pm the bonfire was lit with a spectacular show, maybe you missed that, there was also a display of fire juggling on the main field and many people watched and enjoyed it. On the stage there was musical entertainment and a guy competition for the young children and we had fabulous entries for that all made by children. Also on the stage we had a junior karaoke competition which was well attended. There were 5 food stalls and the Committee had two stalls – a drinks stall (and we made sure that our drinks were sold at a very competitive rates) and a stall where glow sticks were sold. The fireworks display was amazing and this year as the Committee did not have a sponsor it had to fund the £6,000 from its reserves and having the concessions and the drink stalls as well as the glow stick stall all helped to go towards the running costs. There was a delay in the start of the fireworks because of a medical problem which was sorted out by the fantastic St Johns Ambulance – a poor lady had an epileptic fit in the field and it was felt this had to be a priority to sort out to ensure the lady was tended to appropriately and properly and the fireworks were not the main issue at that time. We do not close the event or ‘chuck everyone out’ after the fireworks people do that themselves - they leave without any prompting. In fact our permit allows us to hold the event between the times of 5.30pm - 9.30pm so we could not let it go any longer than the times we are permitted to do so. Parking - well I hold my hands up we did have a major problem there but the weather again was against us, the four fields to be used were so waterlogged it was felt too dangerous to use three of them and the fourth one could only be used for four wheeled drives – even then some got stuck. Most of the road closures were in place because of road works currently being undertaken near the Zoo I have to add that people in St Martins cannot get to Trinity that way they have to go via Five Oaks due to these road works so many things were against the Committee this year. Cancelling was not an option for the Committee. Danrok, we do our best we are not professionals but we have many years of experience behind us and I think the Committee has the reputation of a competent body of people who do organise its events in a business like fashion. The Committee does not consider itself inexperienced if it was it would not have the reputation it has and truly deserves. After the fireworks many people came to the Committee stall to express their congratulations on such a successful event and similar comments have also been received by phone and in person. I should add that the same Committee organises the largest Fete in Jersey - Gorey Fete and that is well attended and well run. All of the profits from both events go to local good causes. The Committee give up a lot of personal time all the year round as meetings are held on a regular basis to ensure that the organisation of both events is appropriate as well as ensuring that equipment used is refurbished or built to specifications. Gorey Fete Committee has been running since 1947 and a few of the Committee members are sons, grandsons or relatives of the original Committee set up over 60 years ago. The Committee is proud of its record of donating money to the local charities. After both events the Committee holds a debriefing meeting where the events are discussed in detail and the Committee does try to ensure that all issues are covered and tries to ensure that improvements to the organisation are implemented for future years. I can assure you that the parking will be discussed at length but I personally do not feel there was any other option. If anyone wishes to contact the Committee please send your letters/comments to the Secretary c/o St Martin’s Public Hall, they will be considered.
