Ware Online Forum

Reply ID 217

Perhaps the phone covers had Santa on them?

Reply ID 224

HB - I agree! It was a laugh, but there could have been a bit more effort (and I inculde myself in this) to make it a bit more "Dickensian". I - too - saw the mobile phone stand; very much out of place, I thought. One other point, the canal boat bit was good, but it was at 6pm - those of us who work in "town" missed most of it; how about staging stuff like that a bit later....?

Reply ID 225

The Dickensian Evening is going down the first one was excelent but alas they are not so good , last years didnt seem to have any sparkle at all the first one we had the town was so crowded you had a job to walk through the town to many people with stalls not connected with a Dickensian Evening,We want more stalls with Mulled wine, Mince pies, Sausage Rolls, sweets for the children etc etc its getting to commercialized every ones out to make their money no fun left in it ajw

Reply ID 232

As organiser of Dickensian evening I agree with you in some respects, however there are a couple of things that you should be aware of.. It would be great to have the majority of people dressed in costume but unfortunately that is entirely up to individuals. Dickensian evening costs in the region of £4000 to stage. Costs include advertising, entertainment, security, first aid etc. The only income is from a few local companies who make donations, plus a small amount from the charity stalls taking part. Without some commercial stalls, who pay considerably more, the evening would not take place. I do have a list of who is coming and what they will be selling and on the night I walk around the town checking who is there against my list. Unfortunately if dealers have a street trading license there is little I can do. I would love to be able to stop these sort of people coming, not only with mobile covers but with a myriad of other things but it is difficult. I have been talking with the Police about the problem, but again there is little that can be done. We do have a Dickensian committee that look at all the concerns and work involved, and if anybody would like to join us they would be more than welcome. If you are interested please call me on 01920 411968 or email. tcmb@wareonline.co.uk

Reply ID 237

Town Centre Manager..... Many thanks for you information regarding the Dickensian Evening. I appreciate fully that this event (as with any) must be difficult to stage on a small and limited budget. I understand that it is the 'outside' traders who pay the most money to sell their wares (no pun intended!) and assume that should these traders be disallowed at this event, then the future of the Dickensian Evening could be in jeopardy. In a ideal world we would all like to see the public making more effort to dress up and get involved and stalls with purely relevance to Dickens but heh we live in a far from ideal world. It is easy to sit back and criticise but I feel that as a town we are lucky to have a Town Centre Management to organise these unique events on our behalf. Keep up the good work. hb

Reply ID 239

I fully agree we are very lucky to have the TCMB. But I do not sit back and criticize, I am usually on duty in the Town from 5pm untill after 10pm and it can be very cold. ajw

Reply ID 269

I was recently in Covent Garden and some of the street acts were brilliant and varied. As these people work for what the public give them would it not be prudent for an official of the Dickensian evening to invite a few of these performers to the town for the night. It must be worth the cost of a train ticket, or even pay for their train tickets.

Reply ID 274

Thanks for comments about TCMB, a lot of people still are not sure of what we do besides organising events, so if you want to know more let me know, or visit the tcmb section of the website. OK, on to Dickensian - it is becoming increasingly difficult to find funds for this event, and I have had to look seriously this year as to what entertainment I can afford to book. Some people actually come for nothing, a gesture which we very much appreciate. As for the Covent Garden idea, I like the sound of it, and perhaps I will take a trip up there (when the weather gets warmer), I guess it will depend on where the "buskers" live, and also I would assume they collect more in Covent Garden than they would in Ware, but definitely worth a try.

Reply ID 278

Hello there, I,m new to this forum but it occured to me that an element of competition at the Dickensian Evening would help bring in the people. I'm talking about best costume competitions for the kiddies, and voting for the best dressed man and woman to be called Lord and Lady of the evening or something. I will be back living in Ware about Christmas time after being away for 10 years and look forward joining in with all the things that go on in Ware, it's much better than Bedford i can tell you

Reply ID 279

TCM Please do not wait for the weather to be warmer as these street entertainers work in all weathers, or maybe a call to Covent Garden Market as they have them audition for a spot to perform. They would make a huge difference with little cost. Edited by - Wareshome on 25 Oct 2002 20:07:24

Reply ID 310

With regards to people dressing up for Dickensian Night. Last year we advertised the fact that we would be giving away Tesco Vouchers for the best dressed. It was difficult to find enough people dressed up just to give out 6 vouchers. I'm afraid it is purely down to individuals, and just hope they will enter into the spirit of the evening. At least I will be dressed up, maybe I can give myself a prize !!!! On to Covent Garden, and I will be pursuing this, but at the moment Dickensian takes up all my time.

Reply ID 311

Keep going Dave - not a lot of fun trying to keep everyone happy. I wouldn't worry about winning a Tesco voucher, you have a far better reward - the satisfaction of having a road in the town named after you !! SFW

Reply ID 312

SFW. Have you been on Holiday missed you with all your remarks. ajw

Reply ID 313

No ajw, can't afford it. Saving up for the Dickensian Evening, I always enjoy the occasion and atmosphere, good opportunity to meet others who have been avoiding me all year. What we need on the night is a flurry of snow - bit of reality !! And another thing - you were up late last night ajw. Your message was timed at 0030, I hope you havn't been fiddling with your watch again !! SFW Edited by - SFW on 02 Nov 2002 14:25:59 Edited by - SFW on 02 Nov 2002 14:52:16

Reply ID 314

SFW. You can keep your Snow. The only place for that is on Christmas Cards, If you want Snow you will have to get some Artificial just for that evening. It makes it to dangerous to get about. ajw

Reply ID 319

Hmmmm, Tesco vouchers...maybe not exciting enough? perhaps a free glass of Mead may have worked better.

Reply ID 330

SFW Walton Road - I'm hoping it could have been named after Isaac Walton (Compleat Angler) etc. Currently trying to trace family history, I believe Isaac is in there somewhere. All these suggestions about various prizes for various competitions. These prizes do not grow on trees. Dickensian already costs me about £3500 to stage. I am doing one competition, a number of shops will be having a window display depicting any Christmas Carol / song. In a couple of weeks competition forms will be in the shops so watch out for them. They will contain a list of the shops taking part, the competition is for the children to work out the name of the Carol or song. I will be awarding a couple of prizes for that. Keep watching the website for the latest info on Dickensian (Events section). I am also hoping to produce a free handout of what is on and where, so again watch for it throughout the town in a couple of weeks.

Reply ID 336

Have you looked in to the idea of getting a sponsor for the Dickensian Evening or parts of it? It would be good advertising for them at the very least and would promote whoever sponsored the evening as a community minded company. Glaxo would be the obvious one to approach but i'm sure there are others who would consider it in the area.