Etherow Lifeboat Rally Cancelled

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Sir,

I write on behalf of the Committee of the Etherow Model Boat Club to inform you that, due to circumstances beyond our control, the International Model Lifeboat Rally, advertised for 22/23 June at Etherow Country Park, has had to be cancelled.

The Etherow Model Boat Club has hosted this rally for the last two years and we very much regret having to take the decision to cancel it this year. We fully intend that it will be held again in 2014, and will announce details later this year.

Many thanks,

Geoff Garside
Hon. Treasurer – Etherow Model Boat Club

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 12/04/2013 11:06:16

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I am truly amazed that the Lifeboat fraternity have not posted their comments, regarding the cancellation of this year's show?

Going off previous years shows, they were very well supported

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

you can't put disappointment into words, Bob……..just when I was getting close to completing two new lifeboats…….….but after speaking to you and Duckie at Ellesmere port re costs of putting it on and the usual lack of interest from modellers to pay for inclusion into competition, (judging from the lack of enthusiasm I used to get when asking for subs at comps when running Fleetwood regattas many years ago, I am in total aggreement with you guys…….you can't go on making a loss every year.

Sad to see it go………but I blame no one else other than WE THE MODELLER!!!

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

To ask what might be a daft question……..how much does it actually cost to host this event?

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

I`m not in a position to comment on the costs

For this year, the two main organisers have just had surgery and are not available

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Captain

Thank you for the reply and I appreciate that you can't comment.

I am simply a curious novice who can't see where any major expense is incurred,

I understand that you also need people willing to do the organisational stuff and that in this case both members are incapacitated but otherwise I can't see what the problems are.

I would really appreciate enlightenment from the better informed members.

Paul

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

As I have been active in one form or another with the National Life Boat Rally since the mid-1980s I was so pleased that Etherow decided three years ago to host this long running event and a terrific job they did. However leaving aside the reasons for its cancelation at Etherow I understand that the Wallasey Model Boat Society would be willing to host the event in conjunction with their very successful annual l life boat appeal event. The venue like the Marine Lake at Southport has a good catchment area for the general public, essential for any form of fund raising. Also there is a good logistical base already in place. It would be very sad indeed if the rally was to cease as it remains even after 30 or more years a well supported event nationally .

Dave Wooley

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

As stated in the original message, the Etherow model boat club will be looking into the event for 2014, but unfortunately this year it had to be cancelled due the the two main organisers having had surgery, One a new knee and the other a new hip. After contacting the society they were not able to do anything about it, so it was a mutual decision to cancell for this year.

The committee will be looking at plan's for a one day event on the Sunday ie a Club Open day, if this is to go ahead I will contact you all again.

Duckie.

[LESLIE JONESParticipant @lesliejones]

Having attended just about every National Model Lifeboat Rally at Southport marine lake, Southport MBC at Rotten Row and at Etherow I was extremely disappointed to hear of the cancellation of this year's event. It is always the few who are relied on to put on such shows and it is unfortunate that their absence has resulted in the cancellation.

I understand there has been a concern about the expense of putting on such an event.

I can appreciate how much such an event can cost. It would be a considerable investmant with the hire of tables, insurance, consideration of Health and Safety, negotiation with the local authority, communication and advertising. Income would only be from competition entries as visitors could not be charged as it was a public space. All proceeds were owards the RNLI, a sentiment I totally support but even the raffle being sold was the RNLI national raffle and no attempt seemed to be made for fund raising towards the event costs.

The weekend has been one my yearly highlights and will be sorely missed. I hope that someone will take on the task of ensuring the continuation of what has been one of the most successful model boats event over many years.

I will continue to support the National (or International) Model Lifeboat Rally, be it Wallasey, Etherow or somewhere else. If I lived closer I would be happy to be more involved but am prepared to help as much as I can but admit I like to compete so would not do anything which would stopped me competing.

I look forward to some encouragingf news.

Les Jones

Current holder of the

Best Pulling and Sailing Lifeboat

Scratch Built Lifeboat

& Best Model in Show

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Duckie It is of course sad the Rally cannot be organized for this year but given the circumstances perfectly understandable. I for one will be looking forward to seeing the event continue and look forward to 2014 at Etherow County Park, thanks for the update.

Dave Wooley

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Hi Les and David

Of course it is sad not be having the event this year, but you only have to look at the figures on this website and others to see there are only the few that keep it going, but thousands that look in!.

I did hear that the main organisers at the previous venue, Southport had all given up though one reason or another so that's why Etherow became the next venue, so perhaps its history repeating itself.

I would think that most club are the same, the few that do and the rest that pay their money and just want to sail their own boats.

I was talking to a club chairman a few years ago and he said "I'm going to cut out the dead wood in this club" I said "are you daft or what" are they paid up members if so they are entitled to all the benefits of the club, you will be losing a lot of money if you do that and who knows at a later date they might want to get more involved!.

That's my theory anyway!

Neil,

It wasn't about the money that stopped it, and my views when talking to you were just that, my views,

Duckie

[LESLIE JONESParticipant @lesliejones]

Hi Duckie

I do hope that when your committee does look to hold this event for next year they look upon it favourably.

I agree totally that the few are relied upon by all the others. They will always be criticised by the the ones who don't do anything. I was secretary of a model boat club for something like 17 years and always had a full programme of events, talks, visits etc but when I asked other club members to take on some organisation or preparation work nobody was willing to help so eventually I resigned and now just do my own thing.

The numbers of model boaters are definitely down and those that continue are more reluctant to enter regattas, steering competitions or any form of competition and just content to potter about. I admit I am firstly a builder and secondly a sailer. For every hour I spent sailing I spend hundreds and hundreds of hours in my workshop.

I'm unfortunate to live a long way from any show or event but try to support all events in the northwest and much further afield. I do hope Etherow continue the Model Lifeboat Rally but hope an early decision could be made to allow another club sufficient time to organise an event.

As I said in my earlier post I would be willing to help as far as my location and my desire to compete allow.

Please may the National Model Lifeboat Rally continue.

Les

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