Rougham Kite festival

[chairman]

Those of you who get the kiteflyer may have noticed that Rougham has been cancelled due to lack of funding and other issues.

I spoke to Martin a few days ago and was told of this but not to post till the kiteflyer came out.. The hope is to get it back in 2012 and possible make it a biannual event watch this space.

It is a shame as it was one of the bigest site to fly kites on for any festival I have been to in the UK. let hope for 2012.

That leave another weekend free for some DIY etc Corinne will be pleased, but I am sure we will find some where to go and fly whos up for a flying that weekend somewhere.

[jelv]

kiteweekenders.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ue&thread=647&page=1#4411

SUFFOLK KITE FESTIVAL AT ROUGHAM
As some of you may already be aware, over the last few years the Suffolk Kite Festival held at Rougham Airfield has made a loss and has been the victim of bad weather. In 2009 we lost over £6000 and this year 2010 despite adding an additional attraction of a 4 x 4 show we still made a loss.

The owners of Rougham airfield together with the Suffolk Kite Flyers have therefore decided not to hold the festival in 2011, we are however hoping to return back in 2012 with a much larger festival.

There is nobody more disappointed than myself at the cancellation of our festival. Rougham is a great site and probably the largest festival site available in the UK. One of the other main problems has been the lack of public support and this is probably down to the fact that Rougham Airfield is a private site and one has to pay to come in. Most other festivals are held on council owned land and are free to enter plus they are often sponsored by the local councils to promote tourism.

Rougham is also not near a major city or situated on the coast like many other festival sites which have the advantage of tourism. Bury/Rougham is only a small market town so it has been very difficult and expensive to attract the public from further away.

May I take this opportunity to thank all the teams, flyers, clubs, traders, STACK, members of the Suffolk Kite Flyers club, Rougham Estate Farms and public for supporting the festival over the last 13 years.

13 is definitely a unlucky number for us but with fingers, legs and flying lines crossed we hope to return back in 2012 with our 14th Suffolk Kite Festival with your support and help – thanks.

Regards

Martin Corrie
Chairman of the Festival Committee
& Vice Chairman of the Suffolk Kite Flyers
www.skfc.co.uk
[e-mail]