General Discussion

How much do the Red Arrows and Utterly Butterly cost? And who pays? If its the council then couldn't the money be better spent on improving the town for the poor sods who live here all the year round, rather than lining the pockets of local businesses who must make a killing on carnival day.

If you think for one minute Carnival days and dos on the Lawn are great for business think again.. Paremts say to children 'dont buy in the shops today spend it at the fair or on the stalls! .. I would shut my shop and have a day off on those days. Fund Raising buckets appear in the shop and you are expected to give money ..they don't go banging doors at houses.
Anyway is it wrong to make a killing if you do ? ..would you expect normal pay if you worked a Bank Holiday?
Should farmers cancel Harvest ?
So much envy ..makes me mad.
May as well the cancel the Carnival ..people are so miserable.

It would seem logical to assume that if tens of thousands extra people descended on Dawlish they would need to be fed and watered. Or do they all bring packed lunches? Thousands more also come to Dawlish in the remainder of the week - the Strand doesn't appear to be deserted at this time.
Anyway my question hasn't been answered - how much do the Red Arrowns cost and who pays? Its nothing to do with being miserable - if I am miserable its having to live in this dump for the remaining 363 days.

I have no idea who pays ..it probably is the business.
I thought you would pick up on the food sales on the day.
Nobody forces anyone to live here !

No, nobody forces anyone to live here, which is why I am moving out! But what an indictment of a town which should be a delight to live in. Like a prison with an unlocked door.

the air display is paid for from the collections held on the previous carnival, in answer to spell checkers rant, if the carnival wasnt here then the buisnesses in dawlish would be adversly affected by the loss of income, carnival day last yr had 10,000 people to watch the airdisplay at least 90% of those people brought at least a chocolate bar in the town, its a lot of money when u look at it like that, the previous yr the good weather gave a head count of 15,000 people on the main beach alone, so maybe the carnival is a good thing and yes the carnival pays its own bills the council etc DO NOT contribute, local buisnesses however do, and its them and the carnival commitee that make it a success.

The entire Dawlish Carnival Event, including the airshow, is funded by local business sponsorship and street collections taken during the same year's event. The Red Arrows alone cost around £8K.

The event is run by a committee of dedicated volunteers.

The event is put on to provide a week of entertainment for all residents and visitors, to help local good causes by raising money and support the town's economy.

The committee/event website dawlishcarnival.co.uk has a lot more information for those interested.
R. Stevens, Dawlish Carnival Committee

I like the Arrows but the Utterly Butterlys really are drivel.

I realize the 'celebrities' pretty much underwrite the costs by fund-raising, which then entitles them to have a jolly day.

Though I personally consider that charitable fund-raising that is partially used to finance an individual having a laff is tantamount to fraud.

Mainly though, the UB fly-past is lousy, ...and pointless. Who wants to stand on the beach being waved at by a twit. If there were aerobatics it might be better, or if the celebs were not tied on.

I must say your suggestion about the 'celebrities' not being tied on, has stired my imagination.
Now I would pay good money to see some of the past wing walkers being tipped into the sea!!
We could even have a whip round, and get some who have not done it in the past,to do it this year. I'm sure there would be plenty of suggestions as to who we would all like to see being tipped off the plane.

Well said gas man.

'I'm sure there would be plenty of suggestions as to who we would all like to see being tipped off the plane'

The names Clatworthy and Hocking somehow spring to mind.

I'd definatly pay to see that one, how much did u want. Would you accept my soul as payment? I think it may be worth it.

I think the Red Arrows event is lovely. The beach becomes a little packed however the locals enjoy it as much as the holiday makers do.

I think this site should be used less for constant moaning and more for putting a little positivity out there!

Not advertized as coming.

The air show is good, which is more than I can say for the carnival procession, which is rubbish every single year. Its so amateurish and cannot compare to Rio or New Orleans.

Its just an excuse for Dawlish trannies to put on frocks and mince around.

Why do the residents of dawlish make such an issue of the carnival. personally dressing up like a fool and cram packing the pubs seems utterly small minded. I can see why the carnival may be a positive thing for children but my concerns are with why fully grown adults go to the pub to numb thereselves with alcohol rather than doing something much more constructive!