Residents' Association Forum

Looked lovely as always - just gutted we could only stay for about 10 minutes.

Keith - as I saw you happily snapping away I am eagerly awaiting the photos!

Hardly any - was looking for the unusual before it got too dark, rather than the usual 'reportage' stuff.  Also, I got cold and left around 4.30!

Nice to see Caroline looking well and your cute little sprog.

Thanks!

I am biassed I know but I reckon she is easily the most beautiful girl in the world (the baby not Caroline! ;) )  !

i thought it was great, brilliant that such a small village can hold such a great event

see the new "simply fresh" store too, whats the scoop there?

Great event and experience. I particularly liked the tandoori chicken wraps served up on the southern end of the village, certainly gave the Rose a run for there money on the taste factor.
I loved the entrepreneurial spirit they made. This could be a great feature for future fairs as the feedback I got from visitors I brought was " why is their not more food styles on offer on every part of the payment"

Why weren't Bachmanns there in Lodge's again with their lovely cakes?  I hope it was not because the High St businesses kept them out, also some of the other food stalls.

It was more commercial this year with adverts read out over the pa system, I thought.

I gather that Bachmanns are opening a new shop (in Weybridge I think) so were rather tied up this year.  I don't think they were excluded by the retailers (though I do recall hearing indirectly about some debate on restricting participants)

I must say the adverts weren't my cup of tea either, but hey, I guess they provided sponsorship and helped raise funds for charity.

There was one about some firm of accountants, full of the most delicious gobbledegook about seeking solutions for your goals going forward &c &c.  Straight out of Twenty Twelve's remarkable PR agency, "Perfect Curve"    I'd love to have the text of that prize specimen LOL !

I heard precisely that! That if you weren't in the High Street you weren't included!

A lot of work goes into putting these events on (Christmas and Summer fairs), with some real dedication by certain individuals. However i felt this year that there was a real lack of substance. Everyone benefits (retailers and consumers) if there are more stalls and choice, restricted trading policies have never been successful (local or global!). It risks, in my opinion becoming so myopic and restricted in its content/participants that it comes a non-event (with the exception of the pretty lights being switched on)! I guess its the same arguments with the Farmers/Village market concept.

I agree with Rudi.  There are always so many people who support our village Fayres - but there is not much to do when we (they) get there.  Surely there must be a way to provide more things for the huge crowd of people to do,  thus "harnessing"  this great turn out by the people who live in Thames Ditton.  I am NOT criticising the wonderful people who organise all the Fayres, because without them there would be nothing at all.  They do a marvellous job indeed!!!  I just think these Fayres have developed since their inauguration into events which seem to attract a whole range of village dwellers - from very old to very young. I can't think of any other activity that takes place in Thames Ditton which reaches out to the whole village community. (indeed - another wonderful achievement by the organisers of the events.) 

I suppose I would like more things to take place at these Fayres because I ENJOY SEEING ALL OUR VILLAGE TOGETHER- YOUNG AND OLD- and if there were more stalls, activities, etc it would just enhance this community spirit, make people stay at the event longer  and give me a greater period of time to physically feel part of  this community. 

I heard the same thing and if Bachmann was excluded that would be disgraceful, let's hope Admin is right and they could have taken part but were busy with other things.  I wondered why the bouncy castles and other children's things weren't there this year, but I couldn't put a finger on it, then rudi's comment about lack of substance hit the nail on the head for me.  What happened to the Residents Association stall this year?  I really missed that little centre of information and gossip!

Still I enjoyed it and thanks to the organisers for putting in all that work - appreciated.  The lights are very good.

I agree, there has been a lot achieved this year and I hope this momentum can be sustained into the future ! However, I too felt that Sundays' event wasn't stimulating enough, with little information/entertainment  (re: Dittonian/mg comment) and not enough to engage the huge crowd that turned up.

It was great that the two new businesses that occupy conventional retail space had an opportunity to promote themselves (re: Admin comment), but surely this event, which is distinct in that it focused on 'seasonal trading' could foster an emergent enterprise community  and allow them to 'test the market' before committing to shop rents, etc ! (re: rudi comment)

And offer us a wider range of seasonal/global street-food as suggested (re:Dilys comment) ! 

This year there's an Association stall at the Weston Green Fair this coming Saturday, for which Ruth Bruce is toiling as I write!

I enjoyed the Fair but not as much as last year.  Still it's a great village institution and thank you to the RA for providing the insurance.

I've checked and can confirm that Bachmanns were certainly invited to participate in the Fair this year, but were busy with the work on the new shop.  I'm sure it will do well - their cakes are sinfully good.

Overall I thought the Fair continued the village tradition nicely.  It should remain a village fair IMHO and if entrepreneurs from outside Thames Ditton are brought in it would lose that essential flavour.  It's our own retailers who do most of the work, we all want our local village shops to survive and prosper, and their views are the most important.

By the way - many participated in the organisation and Tracey of B+B in particular has put in an enormous amount of effort and drive for not just one, but two fine fairs in 2012. Lights supremo Tricia has also done a lot of work.   A big hand for them. 

Keith

My interpretation of the discussion and particularly the issue relating to trading at the Xmas Fair, is that there may be opportunities for emerging businesses and entrepreneurial aspiration that exists amongst residents 'in the village' that could be accommodated, not from 'external' locations.

Wouldn't this help to GROW the business/trading community ?

Yes Dilys - that is how I was reading the thread.  Craft workers from the village, cooks, charities wanting to raise money.  I know there were Sea Scouts and Tiles for the Roof, which were both brilliant, but could there be more groups represented?  I can see how this expansion may create logistical problems, especially in terms of lighting each stall.  As I don't know anything about this I can't really say if it is hard or easy to light stalls in the night time.  Must still add how grateful I am to the people who put so much time and effort into organising the events - they do a fantastic job and I look forward to both the Summer and Xmas Fayre!

See home page for link to some photos

Looks like we have a date set for this years fair of Sunday Nov 30th!

http://www.thamesdittonhighstreet.com/events

Looking forward to it already !

(Yes it's a bit early to be talking about Xmas but I figure may as well roll with it seeing as pubs/restaurants/etc are advertising for it already)