Great Central

Like it Martin

Railway could approach schools and suggest it as an educational trip.. Schools do them to other living history venues.

Is A venue a street.?

Hi
Had reply from Christine and she thinks that any extra incentives to 'acquire' children by means of asking parents to bring children in at special rates etc could probably result in fewer numbers returning for the weekend event.

The trouble with this idea is that teachers may not be too happy at having to 'work' during their holiday.

It is not a street but different re-enactors describe various aspects of 40s and wartime life.

do you mean like Letsbee avenue?

Yep it's at number 999 Letsbee Avenue!!!

Had an update from Christine regarding passes and it does look as though general passes will not be free unless there are some offers of displays. She especially would like Mark there in his German role if possible. She did say that it may be possible for some to get free passes but to email her and, I suppose state your case.
For anyone not eligible the cost will be £10 for the weekend including free camping. Anyway from her email it seems that an event co-ordinator is not a viable option but that individual booking is the way forward unless displays are a possibility.
Best wishes Miriam

Pity that theres not a better area for putting displays...

Hi Chris
I cannot see that there should be a problem with a German display as the 'Germans' take overthe station at Rothley and I would expect no Germans re-enactors would be turned away. The same would be for French as Leicester North becomes a 'French' Station. There is also a fair bit of platfom space at Loughbro which is mainly 'British' orientated so if anyone from the group is wanting a display within the 'different coutry' areas I can imagine Christine would be willing.

Just before Christmas John & Lesley offered there services so that we (members) can start up a civvies area in our group it was so that the promenader's can get into event all you had to do was wear your 40's dresses/suits sit around & talk to the MoPs not all day but have a least 3 people who would be will to "explain£ what & why they are wearing etc really simple but no one came forward only Martin & Lesley now if you want to get into event's start up amongst your self so when they ask for displays that is what we would put on the entry form to get you in.

How did John and Lesley communicate with members because I'm surprised only Martin and Lesley have responded?
Thanks for your advice on what to put on the forms, as that is what members I know do on the events is chat to people on our 40's experiences etc.

Sorry everyone, but the German display is already booked for Festival of Flight, Cleethorpes. Jon had asked over two weeks ago, and when Tracey found out that the organisers were prepared to pay our travel costs, I immediately said yes. I have not been to Great Central before as nobody had ever told me any money was on offer, and I thought I had made it clear to most people that since I end up broke by late summer with all the petrol costs which this hobby incur, I was going to say yes to whichever event proposed to pay.

It was only this weekend that Christine emailed me, asking for me to attend GCR. When I replied that I had already agreed to do Cleethorpes, she said that GCR would have paid if I had asked. As I said, I would have done if I thought money was on offer. She said she had offered Bob French money to bring down his Mowag a couple of years ago, but I'm sure I wasn't aware of such an arrangement, or if I was, it wasn't something that my memory considered significant enough to retain. (I have had rather a lot on my plate in recent times!)

Also, Wayne is quite right in his response above. The group cannot rely on the primary displayers being used as a lever to get everyone else into an event for free. We have continually told members that, increasingly, organisers are cutting down on free tickets for re-enactors without displays, and we have tried to encourage members to start getting together to work out what they can do in the way of putting together displays or scenarios.

Last year, we suggested that members could do something similar to the fashion show I do with Allied Assortment. Martin, Lesley, Tracey and a handful of others did respond and say it was something which they would like to do. But crunch time is now arriving and its time to start planning how this might work. What it needs is for every member to put together about 100 to 200 words about something that they will wear or what they re-enact as, so that one of our members can read out the text using a microphone/speaker system - whatever is available or we might have to purchase one. I'm sure Wayne would agree that the purchase of a system (if affordable) could come out of the group funds rather than a single individual be expected to fork out for it. The group could then offer a 20 minute "show" for the audience. Any one of us can compere - even Pete would do so at events he attends with us; he can do it far better than me .

Another alternative is do what Allied Assortment's civilians have done in the past (and, indeed, which Lesley and Martin have done with their classic car) is to set up a 1940s picnic scenario: blanket or sheet on the grass, with a picnic hamper, the plates, some food, fruit, etc, deck chairs, gramophone. And hey presto - a static display which the civilians can take it in turns to look after. Far simpler than some of the other (great) displays we see other groups and individuals do which involve erecting false walls and creating the interior of someone's parlour or kitchen (and needs a truck to transport to the venue).

Its up to you lot, I'm afraid. But you're all resourceful people and I have every faith that you'll come up with a solution.



This post has been edited by Marcus Anton on Jan 19 2012, 10:24 PM

Mark
We have a speaker system which we take to events to use wherever needed. It is a 12 volt one so works from a car battery. I thought most of the group were aware of this. This could only be used when we are actually at an event as we do often need it when we take outdoor Remembrance Services where no mains is available.

I can see in the next 2 to 3 years "Promenader's" will have to pay to get into all events that is why we as a group need to sort something out & maybe try it at 1/2 penny?.

Hear hear Mark and Wayne, isnt it the good displays that Northern Forties create that bring the group prestige and notice among organisers that we are asked back to events, also we put a lot of work into putting up displays, manning them speaking to the public, your right in that organisers will increasingly not pay for people to go walkabout and ride on trains while those put the effort in, a civilian section is a good idea and i like the picnic scenario and a period fashion show/character description would work well. Using the display sections as a lever for free passes isnt a fair way to go.

Jon