Photographer offers to stage a 'much better ' Haverhill Show
Wednesday, 1st May 2013.
A Town photographer has made a bid to stage The Haverhill Show this year to Haverhill Town Council.
David Doughty, who runs The Gallery, in Lower Downs Slade, has been involved with the Baby Show at Haverhill Show for several years and told councillors he had watched the Show decline
and often heard people say it wasn't what it used to be.
He was joining forces with town florist Fiona Pilcher and other friends to put together what they would like to do with the Show if given the chance to run it, possibly amalgamated with The Big Bash which the council currently runs on the Recreation Ground.
"I think Haverhill is big enough to pull off a much bigger show than we have been having for the last few years," said Mr. Doughty.
"The present committee is one man and his son and I am prepared to talk to him and ask him to step aside.
"People are not willing to help because this person is in charge. He needs to step aside and let new blood put on a better show."
Mr. Doughty said the Show had for a long time supported local charity LampH and he would want that still to be a beneficiary but along with other local charities or good causes.
He had spoken to Barclays Bank and discovered that no funds had been passed to LampH for the last two years.
Mr. Doughty said he had a cheque to present from the Baby Show which he was not prepared to pass on to the organiser but wanted to hand over himself but kept being put off by the organiser.
"We would want one of the banks to put up a treasurer so it would be more open," Mr. Doughty said.
Town Mayor Cllr Pat Hanlon and Cllr Roger Andre both declared an interest as members of the committee of LampH and Cllr Andre confirmed there had been no contribution from The Haverhill Show for two years.
Town Clerk Will Austin said he had been doing some research and established that the Show committee was not a formal organisation, was not constituted and was not a charity and therefore it appeared anyone could run the Show.
" I wouldn't wait for permission to organise the Show," he told Mr. Doughty. However, he had also established that the Recreation Ground had been booked for the Show this year in May.
St. Edmundsbury Borough Council was to discuss with the current organiser whether it was to proceed.
The Town Council's Leisure Manager, Nick Keeble, was keen to tie the Show in with the Big Bash.
Members encouraged Mr. Doughty to go ahead. He had suggested such activities as football, dancing, Majorettes, tug of war and a beer tent run by a Haverhill landlord.
However, Cllr Andre said:" I object strongly to alcohol being sold at this event."
David Doughty, who runs The Gallery, in Lower Downs Slade, has been involved with the Baby Show at Haverhill Show for several years and told councillors he had watched the Show decline
and often heard people say it wasn't what it used to be.
He was joining forces with town florist Fiona Pilcher and other friends to put together what they would like to do with the Show if given the chance to run it, possibly amalgamated with The Big Bash which the council currently runs on the Recreation Ground.
"I think Haverhill is big enough to pull off a much bigger show than we have been having for the last few years," said Mr. Doughty.
"The present committee is one man and his son and I am prepared to talk to him and ask him to step aside.
"People are not willing to help because this person is in charge. He needs to step aside and let new blood put on a better show."
Mr. Doughty said the Show had for a long time supported local charity LampH and he would want that still to be a beneficiary but along with other local charities or good causes.
He had spoken to Barclays Bank and discovered that no funds had been passed to LampH for the last two years.
Mr. Doughty said he had a cheque to present from the Baby Show which he was not prepared to pass on to the organiser but wanted to hand over himself but kept being put off by the organiser.
"We would want one of the banks to put up a treasurer so it would be more open," Mr. Doughty said.
Town Mayor Cllr Pat Hanlon and Cllr Roger Andre both declared an interest as members of the committee of LampH and Cllr Andre confirmed there had been no contribution from The Haverhill Show for two years.
Town Clerk Will Austin said he had been doing some research and established that the Show committee was not a formal organisation, was not constituted and was not a charity and therefore it appeared anyone could run the Show.
" I wouldn't wait for permission to organise the Show," he told Mr. Doughty. However, he had also established that the Recreation Ground had been booked for the Show this year in May.
St. Edmundsbury Borough Council was to discuss with the current organiser whether it was to proceed.
The Town Council's Leisure Manager, Nick Keeble, was keen to tie the Show in with the Big Bash.
Members encouraged Mr. Doughty to go ahead. He had suggested such activities as football, dancing, Majorettes, tug of war and a beer tent run by a Haverhill landlord.
However, Cllr Andre said:" I object strongly to alcohol being sold at this event."
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