2004 Food Festival Review

Chris Allwood

Rain Did Not Stop Play
I am delighted to report that the fourth Emsworth Food Festival was yet again a resounding success. As organisers, we were dreading the year when the festival would experience rain and 2004 was that year. Despite the rain on both Friday and Saturday, visitor numbers were about the same as the previous year and people were determined to enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
We Listened to Your Comments
Having listened to comments from residents and businesses there were a few changes in this year’s event. Firstly, in order to maintain the high level of quality we declined to invite the main body of French traders from the 2003 festival back after their disregard for our need for only food or food related products to be sold; and secondly, we spread the stalls out more to avoid having ‘hot spots’ that were overcrowded during the 2003 festival which resulted in a more ‘relaxed’ feeling.
Dates for 2005 - 9, 10 and 11 September
These are different from last year to avoid a clash with the Goodwood Revival meeting
Planning for 2005
The committee had its final hibernation meeting on the 22nd November 2004 and is due to meet up again on January 31st. Prior to breaking up for the Winter we formed several sub committees:

a. Young Chef of the Year
b. Park & Ride
c. P.R., Promotion and
Media Relations;
d. Sponsorship;
e. Stall Sales including Supply and Design;
f. Friends of the Festival;
g. Community Matters;
h. Finance.

who were briefed to put together recommendations for 2005 based on the winning formula that we have built over the last four events. We are also putting in systems to facilitate succession so that the festival will continue to be successful. To enhance our status as a ‘non-profit making’ community event we are also exploring the possibility of becoming a Registered Charity. I will be happy to report in the Spring Edition of the EMS our progress on these points. Other than this, I will be working on sponsorship and building in more value to the event for sponsors, visitors and the businesses and residents of Emsworth.
Succession
As many of you will be aware, this is my first year as Chairman of the festival as Alistair Gibson stepped down in October 2004 after chairing four events. It is also my last year as I have been Vice Chairman for the same period and, if the festival is to move on, we need a constant influx of new people with fresh ideas. We also need new members who have the time and some experience to sit on sub-committees so that we can share the load. I would be interested to hear from any Emsworth resident or business person who would like to be considered for the sub committees:
Lastly, for the long term security of the Emsworth Food Festival I would like to hear from individuals with suitable experience for Vice Chairman, later Chairman. Currently we do not have a Vice Chairman who might take the Chair for 2006 and I would like to start the process of selection sooner rather that later. If you would like to contact me with regard to anything in this article I can be reached on 01243 432155 or chris@marketplace.co.uk