Ian,

I really appreciate your coments, but sometimes comments and views need to be aired on a forum such as this, where club members can read them. Sadly, it would not be necessary to do so if those same members actually did anything positive to help their own club, but in our case, that doesn't seem possible.

Unlike the venues mentioned, I rely entirely upon volunteers, so do experience problems that they don't, as they have paid staff. It would be sad if we had to do the same and lose an inherently good part of the ethos of the festival, but that is probably the way we will go, in order to provide a professional and enjoyable experience, how sad is that, a club run by members for members can't generate enough volunteers to actually do the necessary.

Posted by chris akers at 01:25, 06/09/10

Hi Chris,

I have come on here to write about my first beer festival experience and say what a wonderful time that I & my family had.

I had no idea how or whom organises the beer festival, but nor did I worry as I have came to enjoy an event in Ashford.  Having seen this, it taints my day, as i would reconsider attending an event where an organiser moans in public.

I do hope I will be able to come back to a beer festival next year and that it is just as much fun. However i would recommmend to raise support for your event, you do not make your grievances public and work with people whom care as much as you do. I am sure that even large scale events as the london double header has behind scene issues, but they never go public.

I wish you well in raising the support you need.

Ian

Posted by Ian Bishop at 22:57, 05/09/10

Well, another beer festival sinks slowly into the sunset, and yet again, we have had a great weekend, with some outstanding music, wonderful beers and great company. The lads from Pontypridd had a great time, and the rugby tournaments were played in a fantastic spirit, with rugby at it's best throughout the day.,

I can't begin to thank the volunteers who hepled put together, and run the beer tent, and who at times were almost but never quite overwhelmed by the needs of our drinkers. It was sad though to see the physical damage wreaked on those that helped throughout the weekend, and even sadder to realise yet again, how many people could have done even a little bit to help, which would have made all the difference.

I want to thank all those that freely gave their time and energy, to make the weekend go so well, and here is not the right forum.What fills me with saddness, however, are the people at my rugby club who decided yet again, to throw their rubbish averywhere, complain about the speed of service, and contemptably, as ever, promise their assistance and then fail to step up to the mark. Again, I won't go into detail, I can't be bothered to waste my breath and energy listening to another batch of excuses, and reasons why this or that didn't happen.

You know who you are, enough said. The saddest endictment on the weekend, is yet again, certain Committee members who do nothing but take praise for the achievements of others, and spend the weekend heaping false platitudes on the heads of those that actually give a damn.

Well, enough is now enough. Due to my illnness, I managed to spend the weekend doing more watching and listening then working, much to my shame. It did show me, however, where the future lies for the beer festival, and how we go about the next event.

There has to be a fundamental change in attitude and approach to this massive fund raising weekend, which I get told, year after year, provides the cash flow we desperately need at the start of the season, if it is to continue at ARFC.

If, in future, the support and volunteers are not forthcoming, if, in future, proceeds from the festival are not invested in it's future, then it will inevitably die. If, in future, those that 'volunteer' fail to get their collective backsides into gear, and do the simple tasks that we need to have done, then the beer festival will depart ARFC.

That's it,rant over, but the ball now lies in the court of the Club I would literally die to support, and more importantly, those on the Committee, and so called 'senior' people to wake up and smell the coffee, and actually see the very simple future rather than once again, kill the golden goose.

I doubt whether this message will have any effect, but to outrage the grossly inflated egos that certain people project, and if that's the case, then I am very sad, but won't expect anything else, the same as the chances of the message surviving more than 30 minutes on here, but I have at least said my piece.

Posted by chris akers at 20:49, 05/09/10

Syntax is what you have to pay when you put on those little ole heel risers and start chatting to the loose women!!

Posted by Trevor Adams at 07:33, 03/09/10

Trevor,

   I will be there with all but the loose women on Saturday and looking forward to a great night,is a syntax error a penalty or free kick this year? Spell check would be more helpful than a white background.

   Neil Beech

Posted by Neil Beech at 09:18, 02/09/10