The year that summer was cancelled

One of the biggest blows to Swindon’s summer was also one of the least expected.

The Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford was cancelled the night before the annual spectacular was due to begin after persistent rain transformed the area into a muddy bog.

Because of that, the organisers, who have staged the show for 38 years, are even more determined that next year’s show will be better than ever.

Richard Arquati, spokesman for the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises, said: “The biggest effect of this year’s cancellation was that everyone involved is doubly determined to make sure next summer’s event is as exciting, if not more so, than this year’s was destined to be.”

Fairford mayor John Morgan said: “As far as the town itself is concerned it was a huge disappointment.

“It was also hugely disappointing for the businesses in the area that usually get a huge amount of income from the show.”

Visitors from as far away as the Far East were due to attend the show and many had already arrived in the area before the decision to cancel was announced at 8.30pm on the eve of the show.

Mr Arquati said: “Naturally people were disappointed and we’ve received a number of letters from people expressing their disappointment.

“Our policy was to respond to each individual.

“We found that once we explained the rationale behind the decision we took, most people came back to us and said they supported our actions.

“The disappointing thing for us was that we were having to contend with a no-win situation.

“If we had gone ahead with the Air Tattoo, the risk was that there would have been gridlock on the roads.

“Many cars would have got stuck in the muddy car parks and conditions on the airfield would have made it difficult and dangerous for us to operate effectively.”

The organisers of the event are looking at possible ways to make the cancellation less likely to happen again.

The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust has compiled a DVD called The Show That Never Was, featuring footage of the 2008 rehearsals.

All proceeds will go to the Charitable Trust.

Mr. Arquati said: “We had such exciting footage of many of the participating aircraft that we felt it would be a shame not to at least give the public the opportunity to see it.”

The DVD is £14.95 and is available from www.airtattoo.com or by calling 0870 758 1940.

Next year’s show will take place on July 18-19 at RAF Fairford, with Earlybird tickets going on sale in early December.

CRICKLADE Show was another summer casualty – but organisers have vowed it will return.

John Coole, Cricklade assistant town clerk, said: “There was a lot of disappointment in Cricklade and the charities lost their income, I know there were a few with holes on their balance sheets.”

Joanne Howles, one of the show’s organisers, said: “I don’t think we’re going to lose any support.

“The response has been ‘what a shame’.

“It is definitely strange weather at the moment. We’ve had very weird weather but as long as this year goes ahead okay I think we’ll be fine.”

Unseasonal downpours last August left the field used by the show in Chelworth Road waterlogged, and organisers were forced to cancel the Bank Holiday Monday event.

Mrs Howles said: “The insurance against weather conditions is incredibly expensive and I think you have to try to run the event anyway.

“So instead of doing that we’ve been putting money away for this eventuality.

“We have had a lot of expense, but quite a bit we can hold until next year, so next year should be cheaper to run.

“It’s really helped in terms of getting money in to pay for the overheads.

“Most of the attractions we were due to host still charge between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of their fee, even if it’s not on.

“But some of the people have been really good and said don’t worry about it.

“Lots of them we use every year and they know we’ll use them next year.

“Despite appearing dry enough to host the event on the previous Sunday, by Wednesday it was clear the show couldn’t happen and the decision was made to call it off.

“So many people were calling up saying they were so sorry for us.”

SWINDON and Cricklade Railway’s annual Wartime Weekend also fell foul of the elements.

Dave Peacey, chairman of the organising committee, said: “This has become one of the biggest financial inputs of the year, so it was a blow to lose it. But there are other events, so it’s a big contribution, but the railway doesn’t survive on this alone.

“There’s nothing you can do about it, you just have to grin and bear it.”

The charitable organisation was left at least £1,000 out of pocket because of the cancelled event.

Mr Peacey said: “Some of the organisations decided to waive the costs, the losses could have been 10 times as high if everyone had called in the money we owed them.

“We were very grateful to everyone who was going to come who cancelled their fee.”

The event usually attracts more than 1,500 visitors and involves more than 70 military vehicles and 15 re-enactment groups.

Mr Peacey said: “We had quite a few emails from traders and re-enactment groups saying ‘sorry it’s off, but make sure we’re booked in for next year’. There’s a lot of goodwill.

“We’ve been very fortunate in that this would have been the fifth event. Over the four previous years we were able to raise over £20,000 for the railway.”

Next year’s event is due to take place on September 12-13.

“We just pray that the weather will be acceptable,” said Mr Peacey.