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Well there are a lot of thank yous to do....
The USO Field Concert team - they provide the core foundations of our show and thanks to them we managed to get the Jive Aces....fantastic were they not, as were all our acts, The Swingtime Sweethearts, The Clover Sisters, Bud Flanagan (who also compared the show), the Lindyhoppers and Jane for the fashion show. Let us not forget the Air Cadet band as well, they have come a long way since their first ever public performance at the Hellfire event two or three years ago.
Then there were the two cadet troops, the Marine Cadets and the Air Cadets - they were great, a real credit to our youth who enthusiastically did everything asked of them and more, and did it well. Nice to hear that they have picked up some new recuits as well. They simply do so much for us, everything from acting as a mayoral escort, performer bodyguards, extra security overnight, fence erectors, leaflet distributors, armed forces charity collectors, HCA collectors and a thousand and one other jobs too. Brilliant all of them.
Talking about the cadets, I noticed how much the crowd grew on Saturday when the tent erection competition was on, the Marines won back the Hellfire Corner Trophy this year - well done. Commiserations to the Air Cadets - no doubt they will be out to reclaim it next year.
Then there are the owners of the classic military and civilian vehicles. Their unforms and vehicles add so much colour and atmosphere to the weekend along with a lot of additional interest. That great Buik and the monster Scammel.....to mention just two.
I hope the children enjoyed the 40's style funfair that we laid on. These too are fast becoming a great favourite of ours.
Then there were so many other displays and people I could mention - the armed forces charities, so good to see so much money collected for ''our lads and lasses'. Help for Heroes (thanks Ian), RBL and the Wings Appeal, all there and we have another wanting to come next year too...a display by Maggie from Dover War Memorial,then there was Alan - gunny and his shooting gallery and so many more....
The traders all reported lower taking this year, sadly, but one of them did say they have found it the same at all four events they have attended so far this year. Thank you for your contribution.
I must have missed a lot of people out...
You formumites, fantastic to see so many of you there supporting us. Seeing you enjoying it makes it all worthwhile....Then everyone else who attended and support us every year. Thank you.
I suppose I had better thank the committee as well, they all do a great job, even the bossy one who orders me about - guess who that might be......