Barry District Scout & Guide Fete

This years Fete will was held on Saturday 3rd July 2004 at Romilly park in Barry, featuring the Devil's horseman wild west show & Giant wrestlers. The Fete was officially opened at 1:30pm by Ms Jane Hutt AM. The Network ran a licensed wild west themed bar with full cowboy outfits, music and western videos.

Arrivals!

Assembly at Romilly Park was to be 09:00 hours. Some of us though were good, and keen to arrive 20 minutes early (Gareth W, Ian and Nic): much to the delight of Gareth J who would not admit to being on site all night, but we did not believe him! Richard and Martin were a little bit late, but hours before Simon so we let them off this time! The only problem being that it was Simon who had the marquee poles, so once we had filled the cooler bins with cold water we had a nice stand around with nothing to do!

The Podium!

Unfortunately we were spotted - despite being a good distance away from mission control - and were marched off to help put up the podium by the central arena. This was a scaffolding construction with not a knot or lashing in site, complete with its own professional rigger to make sure it was safe. We soon learned what to do (very slowly!):

Nic: "Ouch (or something similar!)
Rigger: "Move your hand!"
Nic: "You are supposed to shout that before you move it!"

We spent almost an hour marveling at this wonderful construction each making his own individual promise to get a lift with Simon next year.

Between the Podium and the Marquee!

We had another nice stand around while Gareth J and Ian went for the deeply chilled beverage cans. The trolleys were put in the chiller as well and it was some time before life returned to their frozen fingers.

The Marquee!

Simon arrived! Cheer! We can put up the Marquee! A deep gloom descended.

Now this was a good sized marquee, with two upright poles and no ridge pole! Never mind, we had the knowledge, but sadly not quite the manpower needed to get it up quickly in the wind. None-the-less, we struggled manfully only to be thwarted by the lush loam letting one of the ground spikes loose its grip. Mercifully the beverage wagon arrived and we now had the extra pair of hands we needed: the sweet smell of success was in the air again. We would, at this point, like to thank those gallant heroes who let us guy the sidewalls to the towing points on their cars. We cannot name them in case they get into trouble!

The Fete

We soon had our first customers - the band needed to warm up, so dressing up in someone's cowboy fantasy costumes (no longer a fantasy after seeing us, we are told) and serve up the drinks.

It was good to see all the Beaver Scout, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Rainbows, Brownie Guides, Guides, Senior Section, Leaders and Helpers (sorry if we missed anyone!) parade, and fill, the arena for the grand opening. It was even nicer to see some of them make a pilgrimage to our establishment to purchase beverages appropriate to their age.

We had spared no expense this year, having a generator to power music and video. How "Convoy" and "Ernie" fit in with a cowboy theme is a bit tenuous, but it was probably a bit better than someone's Doris Day collection - Deadwood Stage etc. Not that we are knocking Doris Day, you understand! There is a time and place!

Custom came in waves, fortunately not driven by wind and rain, but by gaps in the Arena programme. One minute it was stand around, the next it was (almost) all hand to the, er, chiller bins. As "Host", "Gaffer", "Landlord" etc Gareth J counted money. Wringing his hand with delight as we reached break-even point, and his smile got ever wider as the coffers filled. The time went very quickly and it was soon time to shout, ER, "time" which was not popular with some of the locals.

The Epilogue!

This seemed to take just as long as setting up, minus the waiting for Simon time, of course! It had been a good day, and the good folks of Barry who put so much into this event year after year, really do a grand job. And yes, we do include Gareth J in that! Well done!

The Post Script

A poser for you! Were those youngsters who tried to wreck the park on Thursday, causing much work for the organisers and the police, in attendance on Saturday? By the sound of it they are the ones who need Scouting or Guiding!

Nic

More info available at http://www.barryscouts.org